Members from Pakistan and France were on hand at a ceremony inaugurating the 22-MW Jabban hydroelectric plant after a seven-year rehabilitation project was completed earlier this week.
Located on the Swat Canal in Pakistan’s Malakand Division, the Jabban plant hasn’t produced energy since a fire damaged the project in November 2006.
Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) solicited bids to restore the plant in November 2007, with work including dismantling of the existing 19.2-MW powerhouse, switchyard, penstocks, and parts of the forebay.
The rehabilitation project also included the replacement of Jabban’s previous hydro turbines with new ones, increasing its installed capacity from 19.2 MW to 22 MW.
Much of the funding for the work came from the French Development Agency (AFD), which agreed to provide about US$34.4 million for the project in July 2009.
WAPDA officials said Jabban should be running at full capacity by September.
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