Project Brief:
Gorkin-Matiltan Hydropower Project (GMHPP) is a run-off the river project located in Kalam, Tehsil Bahrain, District Swat. Weir Site is located near Matiltan village at about 15 Km from Kalam and Power House is located near Gorkin village on the right bank of Ushu River approximately 8 Km from Kalam. The Project is sponsored by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government, to be financed through its own resources (80% HDF & 20% ADP).
Salient Features of the Project:
Capacity: 84 MW
Design Discharge : 42 Cumecs
Net Head : 238 m
Headrace Tunnel : 6.67 Km
Length of Transmission line : 45 Km
Headrace Tunnel : 6671 m
Plant Factor : 47%
Annual Energy : 346 GWh
Expected Revenue : 3,237.6 Million/Annum
Total Project Cost : Rs. 20,722.94 Million
EPC Contract Cost : Rs. 12,301.92 Million
Project Completion : 26th December, 2024 (Anticipated)
Current Status:
Overall Physical Progress : 71%
Design Work : 99%
Civil Work : 79%
Electro-Mechanical Work : 51%
Headrace Tunnel : 84%
Grid Interconnection Study has been approved for Gorkin Matiltan HPP and 10 other HPPs in Swat valley by PESCO and NTDC.
Generation License issued by NEPRA in September 2022.
Tariff petition has been submitted and the determination is in progress in NEPRA.
Power Acquisition Approval submitted to PESCO MIRAD.
Challenges Faced During Construction:
The EPC Contract of the project was awarded on October 27, 2016 and construction activities of the project commenced on November 07, 2016 with original completion date of November, 05, 2020. However, the project was delayed due to the following reasons:
- Land Acquisition issues:
Non-agreement of locals on rate of land and dispute between Forest department and locals on land ownership resulted in more than 2.5 years delay in the project which was ultimately resolved by the involvement of Honourable Chief Minister KPK and Chief Secretary KPK.
- Covid-19 Pandemic:
The covid-19 related restrictions resulted in delay in the Manufacturing of Electro Mechanical Equipment in China and ultimately resulting in delay of project completion.
- Transmission Line issue:
The issue of Transmission Line was pending since long with NTDC. On the direction of NTDC, Integrated Interconnection study was carried out in 2021 for construction of a combine transmission line of all HPPs in Swat valley. The study has been approved by PESCO in 2022 while NTDC has now granted its approval in July 2023.
- Unexpected Adverse weather conditions:
Construction activities are halted during winter season from November/December to March/April depending on snowfall conditions which vary significantly.
- Unprecedented flood of August 2022:
The unprecedented flood of August 2022 has severely hampered the project progress since most of access roads to project site are damaged and transportation of Electro-Mechanical Equipment as well as construction material is very difficult resulting in progress delay.
- Demobilization of Chinese Expatriates due to security reasons:
The electromechanical works on Unit 01, 02 & 03 in Powerhouse and installation of embedded parts in Weir Site were badly suffered since July 2022 due to withdrawal of expatriate’s staff from site as per the instructions received from the District Police Officer (DPO), Swat. The issue has been resolved in the DICC meeting in July 2023 and currently the expatriates have been mobilized to site.