The Karot Hydropower Project, which is a part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) hydropower projects, has been completed. It is a large concrete-core rock-fill gravity dam constructed on the Jhelum River near Karot village. The project is sponsored by the Chinese state-owned company ‘China Three Gorges Corporation,’ famously known as CTG. The project was successfully commissioned on June 29, 2022 with an installed capacity of 720 MW and contributed its share in the national electric grid smoothly. It is the first investment project of the Silk Road Fund and is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The major project features include the construction of a concrete gravity dam with a crest length of 320 meters and a length of 27 kilometers. The dam’s reservoir will be approximately 165 million cubic meters in volume.
Karot Hydropower Project has a lot of socioeconomic dividends, not only for the local population, but can also contribute towards the national economy. The project will continue to play a crucial role in providing necessary power, storage, and other services as the company is also constructing a school and a state-of-the-art guest house to boost tourism potential in the area.
Since the implementation of CPEC, China has been injecting hydro energy into Pakistan’s green economic development, and the Karot Hydropower Project will be branded as the flagship hydropower project in Pakistan being constructed by CTG. The company is responsible for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China, the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant in 2008.
Pakistan is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change. Since mid-June 2022, multiple rounds of rainstorms have hit various provinces of Pakistan, causing severe flooding. The construction of such a project will not only improve Pakistan’s flooding strategy, but also have a positive impact on the ecological system. Besides affordable, low-cost electricity, such projects will provide flood control, irrigation support, and clean drinking water.
Karot Hydropower Project has a lot of socioeconomic dividends, not only for the local population, but can also contribute towards the national economy. The project will continue to play a crucial role in providing necessary power, storage, and other services as the company is also constructing a school and a state-of-the-art guest house to boost tourism potential in the area. Pakistan Army’s role in making this project a reality cannot be denied. It has played a vital role in this regard as the army ensured the security provided to CPEC and Chinese officials. The army has also foiled all the nefarious designs of the enemies to sabotage CPEC projects. Pakistan Army provided protection, requisite support and state-of-the-art surveillance and monitoring to Karot Hydropower Project.
Courtesy by Lt Col Muhammad Majid Mirza – Hilal English
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