Search results for: 'pakistan'

Financial close for Pakistan hydropower project

Mott Macdonald has announced that the Karot hydropower project in Pakistan has achieved financial close.

IFC to invest $100M in Pakistan hydropower project

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has announced plans to invest $100M in the 720MW Karot run-of-river hydropower project in Pakistan.

Roads Week on WCN: Some of the key current global road projects

Several projects are now in execution around the world and WCN, as part of its roads week, has listed 13 worth knowing about.1)    National Highway Development Program, IndiaThe $71bn National Highway Development Program was implemented in 1998 and aims at improving the road network in India.The project — being delivered in seven phases — includes the construction, rehabilitation, expansion and upgrade of nearly 56km of highway.The Golden Quadrilateral phase, completed in 2015, connects the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, through a 5,846km road. The scope of the project also includes the construction of around 50,000km of roads, under Phases I-VII, Port Connectivity, and the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE).Even though the development only accounts for 2% of the total length of roads in the country, it carries about 40% of the total traffic. The programme, owned by National Highways Authority of India and planned by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways of India, started in 2001 and is expected to be complete in 2021. 2)    Central to Sukhumvit Bypass Upgrade, ThailandThe $26bn project involves the construction of an underground tunnel from Central Road to Soi Pornprapanimit in Chonburi, Thailand.The four-lane tunnel will be 1,900m long and 20m wide.The project also includes the construction of four subterranean lanes, road separators, footpaths, as well as the installation of air ventilators, signalling, security and lightening systems. Additionally, a U-turn on top of the tunnel — featuring an island with dolphin sculptures — is set to be constructed.The upgrade will reduce traffic congestion, as well as provide a freeway road to the region.Construction on the project, carried out by the Ministry of Transport of Thailand, commenced in February 2015 and is expected to be complete in 2018.3)    Trans-Sumatra High Grade Highway, IndonesiaThe $25bn Trans-Sumatra High Grade Highway project is set to connect the Lampung and Aceh provinces in Sumatra Island.The project, also known as Trans Sumatra toll road, involves the construction of a 2,600km toll road to be developed in 24 sections.The scope of the work also includes the construction of pavements, supporting walls, toll stations, pedestrian walkways, as well as the installation of safety systems.The development — aiming at improving connectivity and economic development in the region — has suffered many setbacks. In 2012, the land acquisition process started, but faced long delays due to disputes along the route.Construction work commenced in 2014, and the first eight sections are expected to be complete by 2019. Construction companies selected for the highway include PT Adhi Karya (Persero), PT Wijaya Karya Beton, PT Hutama Karya (Persero) and PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero).4)    Westconnex Motorway, AustraliaThe Westconnex Motorway will provide a link between Westerm Sydney, Sydney Airport and the Port Botany in New South Wales. The US$13bn project includes the construction of a 33km road — connecting the country’s M4 and M5 motorways — to be delivered in three stages. Stage I involves the construction of 13km of road, including the construction of the M4 east link between Homebush and Haberfield. Additionally, it includes the upgrade of the Concord Road interchange and the realignment of surface roads at City West Link and Parramatta Road.Stage II includes the widening of the existing M5 East to eight lanes from the Kings Georges Road interchange, and 9km of twin tunnels. Construction in this stage is expected to be complete by 2019.Stage III involves the construction of an 8.5km, three-lane road tunnel between Stage I at Haberfield and Stage II at St Peters. Construction work is expected to commence in late 2018 and be completed by 2023.Construction on the motorway has started in 2015 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.The project’s contractors include Samsung C&T Corporation, CPB Contractors Pty Limited, Fulton Hogan Australia Pty Ltd, John Holland Pty Ltd, Rizzani de Eccher S.p.A., CPB Contractors Pty Limited, Dragados S.A. and sub-contractor Samsung C&T Corporation.5)    Lahore-Karachi Motorway, PakistanThe National Highway Authority of Pakistan is undertaking the construction of the Lahore-Karachi Motorway project with the aim of reducing journey times and congestion.  The $7bn project includes the construction of a 1,152km dual six-lane motorway to be executed in four sections. The first section involves the construction of a 136km, six-lane motorway from Hyderabad to Karachi, while the second includes the construction of a 296km motorway from Hyderabad to Sukkur.The third stage includes the construction of a 387km motorway from Sukkur to Multan and the fourth section the construction of a 333km motorway from Multan to Lahore.Furthermore, bridges, underpasses, footpaths, cycleways and service roads are being constructed.Construction work commenced in 2015 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.The chosen contractors for the project include Frontier Works Organization, China Railway Zoth Bureau Group and Zahir Khan & Brothers.  6)    Longchuan to Huaiji Highway, ChinaThe on-going Longchuan to Huaiji Highway project has been announced in 2013 and is expected to increase mobility and provide a smooth flow of traffic.For this effect, a 368km-long and 26m-wide highway is being constructed in Guangdong, China.  The $6.6bn project also includes the construction of walkways, flyovers, a 26m-wide roadbed, and a toll plaza, along with the installation of signalling and lighting systems. Construction work — by Guangdong Hualu Transportation Technology Co Ltd — is expected to be complete in 2018.7)    G75 Lanhai Expressway: Weiyuan-Wudu section, ChinaThe G75 Lanhai Expressway will connect the region of Weiyuan to Wudu in Gansu, China. The $5.8bn project involves the construction of a 244km highway, including bridges, tunnels, interchanges, walkways and tollbooths. It will also include the installation of signalling and lighting systems. The expressway is being delivered in 23 sections and construction work in section 4 and 6 is now underway. Construction work started this year and is expected to be complete in 2019.8)    Tolo Highway/Fanling Highway widening, Hong KongThe Tolo Highway/Fanling Highway is set to provide a good transport link between Island House Interchange and Fanling in Hong Kong.To help to achieve that aim, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Highways Department is widening roads and constructing new bridges.The $5.6bn development also includes the construction of a carriageway, noise barriers, retaining walls, water-mains, drainage and sewerage, geotechnical and landscaping works, as well as the installation of fire hydrants and sign boards.Construction work started in 2009 and is being delivered in two phases. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for Phase I was awarded to Gammon Construction Limited and China State Construction Engineering Limited, while a Hyder Consulting, Arup and Black & Veatch joint venture secured the design-build for phase II.Phase I has been completed and phase II is now under construction. The highway is expected to be complete by 2018.9)    Altanbulag-Ulaanbaatar-Zamyn Uud Highway, MongoliaThe highway, almost 1,000km long, will connect the regions of Altanbulag and Zamyn Uud in Mongolia.The scope of the project includes the construction of a 367km highway from Altanbulag to Ulaanbaatar and 630km of highway from Ulaanbaatar to Zamyn Uud.The $5bn project — aimed at reducing traffic congestion — also involves the construction of ramps, lane dividers, pedestrian ways, as well as the installation of lighting systems. The highway is being built by the Chinggis Land Development Group (CLDG) — in a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. Construction work started in 2015 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2018. 10)    Wenchuan-Maerkang Highway – ChinaThe $4.7bn Wenchuan-Maerkang Highway project was announced by the Sichuan Transport Investment Group Co in 2012.The project involves the construction of a two-way, four-lane 173km-long highway in Sichuan, China.  It also includes the construction of tunnels, bridges, concrete pavements, service area and related infrastructure.Construction work started in 2014 and is expected to be complete in 2017.The EPC contractor for the project is CCCC Fourth Highway Engineering Co., Ltd.11)     State Highways Improvement II – IndiaState Highways Improvement II project is set to improve the road network in Karnataka, India.The $4.5bn project involves the construction of 830km of two-lane highway in the first phase and 633km in the second phase.The highway is being delivered on a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer basis.Construction work started in 2011 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.12)     Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade, AustraliaThe Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is undertaking the Pacific Highway upgrade with the aim of reducing travel times and cost for the people.The US$4.3bn project involves the upgrade of four-lane, 155km dual carriageway between Woolgoolga and Ballina on the North Coast of New South Wales. The development — being developed in 11 sections — includes the construction of 10 grade-separated interchanges, access bridges, overpasses, viaducts, cross-drainage bridges, service roads and a 1.5km new four-lane Harwood bridge over the Clarence River.The scope of the work also includes the installation of signalling and safety systems.    The latest contract for the project was awarded to Ferrovial and Acciona consortium in July 2016 for the design-build of Harwood Bridge.Works on the first and second sections are underway. The entire project — expected to reduce travel times by up to 25 minutes — is scheduled for completion in 2020.13)    Pan Borneo Highway Upgrade, MalaysiaThe Pan Borneo Highway Upgrade project consists in the upgrading of 1,663km of carriageway from Borneo States of Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia.The highway is being upgraded from a single-carriageway into a dual-carriageway.The scope of the work also includes the construction of bridges, pedestrian ways, and other related infrastructural facilities as well as the installation of signalling and safety systems.Lebuhaya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd is the main contractor for the $4.2bn project — being developed in different stages. Construction work started in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.* For more information on road projects, visit Timetric's Construction Intelligence Center.

Asian advance

Hydro projects of all stages continue to make Asia a growth sector, says Patrick Reynolds. Among the many hydropower projects in development in Asia, expansions are underway at the Baglihar scheme in India, the Tarbela dam in Pakistan, and Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana pumped storage plant in Thailand.Also in Pakistan milestone progress has been achieved recently at Neelum Jhelum, and studies are advancing plans for Thakot and other projects in the Indus basin.A range of further supporting studies for hydro projects are underway in Nepal and Bhutan, respectively, and also Vietnam — including Lai Chai where works are advanced. A refurbishment project is in preparation for a key hydro scheme in Tajikistan.Nepal also has a focus on irrigation needs, including a wider examination of flood hazard risk.Himalayas/Central AsiaIndia: Baglihar-II
The 450MW Baglihar-II project in Jammu & Kashmir, India, was inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Developed on the Chenab River, the project is the second stage of the Baglihar scheme and doubles the installed capacity at the site to 900MW. The Stage I plant was built over 2000-2008. Their joint output is expected to be approximately 4180GWh of electricity annually.Project developer is the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. Lahmeyer International — part of Tractebel Engineering, a division of ENGIE previously GDF Suez — is the Engineer-in-Charge of the Baglihar site, and since 1999 has had engineering responsibilities on both stages of the development.Contractor on both stages is Jaiprakash Associates. E&M supplier on Stage II are Voith Hydro and Andritz Hydro, and for Stage I were Voith Siemens and VATECH, respectively.Both stages are served by a 144.5m-high concrete gravity dam with an integrated overflow spillway. Each stage also features significant underground infrastructure. The intakes to both are located in the bank, immediately upstream of the dam.The stages have parallel diversion tunnels at the dam. The headrace tunnels also run together for most of their distance, and each has a 77m high surge shaft.The underground powerhouses of the two stages, each with 3 x 150MW Francis units, are close together — Stage II complex is located immediately upstream of the Stage I caverns. The cavern complexes are approximately 180m apart.Each powerhouse cavern is 50m high x 24m wide x 121m long; and, the transformer caverns are 24m high x 15m wide x 112m long. The caverns were excavated over 2011-2013.Downstream of each powerhouse complex are further underground works, located before the tailrace tunnels: the underground structures are ‘Collection Galleries’. For Stage I, the collection gallery is a single cavern; for Stage II, the system includes a lower gallery 20.6m high x 14m wide x 95m long, three 14m-wide riser shafts and a gate operating top gallery 9m high x 16m wide x 57m long.The tailrace tunnels are different, too — Stage I is short (130m), high (29m) and flow is free-flowing; Stage II is a 350m-long, 10m-diameter pressurised tunnel.Other projects on the Chenab that Lahmeyer has worked on include Sawalkote, Ratle and Pakal Dul.Separately, in Himachal Pradesh, Lahmeyer recently provided consultancy services for the Thana Plaun project being developed on the Beas River by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation. The 187MW scheme involves dam works and an underground powerhouse, and is expected to generate about 530GWh annually.Pakistan: Thakot
Investigations are underway to prepare a feasibility study for the Thakot hydro scheme being developed on the Indus River by Pakistan's Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA).Thakot is being developed as a project of at least 2GW, and is located immediately upstream of the existing Tarbela reservoir. It is part of a cascade of large hydro schemes planned to be built on the river, and upstream projects include 2.4GW Patan and 4.5GW Daimer-Basha.Lahmeyer is working with local partners on studies for the three WAPDA projects — Thakot, Patan and Daimer-Basha, respectively.The next project upstream from Thakot in the Indus cascade is Patan, and others being planned include Dasu and Daimler-Basha, which is 315km upstream of Tarbela dam.For the Thakot project, WAPDA is seeking to exploit a head of approximately 180m between Patan and Tarbela. Planning studies for Thakot are investigating options for either a single project or a few created as a small, intermediate cascade, says Lahmeyer. Thakot dam site is at a narrow section of the river, just downstream of Besham.At Tarbela itself, WAPDA is currently constructing the 4th Extension Project at the site to add 1410MW by June 2017 — an earlier deadline to an accelerated programme, announced in January. The extension will increase the installed capacity at Tarbela to 4888MW.Civils works on the 4th Extension Project are being executed by SinoHydro, and the E&M package is being supplied by Voith Hydro. Consultants working on the project are Mott MacDonald and Coyne et Bellier with subconsultants MM Pakistan and ACE Pakistan. The consulting team has also undertaken studies for the 5th Extension project.Tarbela was completed in the 1970s, and generating units have been added in phases up to the early 1990s.An earlier project for Lahmeyer was a feasibility study review for the high-head, 34MW Harpo scheme, on a tributary on the Indus. 
Separately from Indus developments, WAPDA noted the milestone progress achieved in underground works in February, with a key tunnel breakthrough on the 969MW Neelum Jhelum scheme. The project is to be commissioned over the second half of 2017. Contractor is Chinese consortium CGGC-CMEC. Consultants are Neelum Jhelum Consultants, which is a joint venture of MWH, Norplan, Nespak, ACE and NDC.Tajikistan: Qairokkum rehab
ILF is providing consultancy services to national utility Barqi Tojik for the rehabilitation, uprating and safety improvements at Qairokkum hydro plant, in Tajikistan.The 66-year old plant on the Syr-Darya River is to have its capacity increased from 126MW to 174MW, and various E&M and civil engineering packages of works undertaken for the rehabilitation.The project is also to deliver dam safety improvements, the quality of electricity supply, and climate change resilience.ILF will provide services during procurement and construction phases, and commissioning.Funding support for the scheme has been given by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).The bank also — along with the World Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB) — has given funding support to the related CASA-1000 transmission line project, which will help Tajikistan export hydropower to the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mott MacDonald has also carried out climate resilience studies on Tajikistan's water sector for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).Nepal
Consultants Lahmeyer, Total Management Services (TMS), Entura and Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) are working across a number of water studies and projects in Nepal. The different contracts range from flood hazard studies and providing consultancy services to the Nagmati irrigation scheme and development of Tanahu hydro project, respectively.Lahmeyer is working with local partner TMS on flood hazard studies in 25 key river basins — including a focus of mitigation measures in six catchments — for the Ministry of Irrigation. The studies were due for completion in the first quarter of this year.The client division managing the task is the ministry's Water Resources Project Preparation Facility (WRPPF), which has ADB funding support to focus on urgent projects to mitigate both climate change impacts and ensure sustainability of food supply.Separately, the ministry and ADB have commissioned Entura as lead consultant for the initial services of investigations and updating the feasibility study of the Nagmati dam, near Kathmandu.Following consultancy services will include detailed design of the dam and reservoir operation regime, and assistance with procurement for the construction stage of the project to be built in the Bagmati river basin.In hydropower, development services for the 140MW Tanahu hydro project — the country's first large storage reservoir — are being provided by Lahmeyer with the support of MHI.The consultants were appointed to the project last year by the developer, Tanahu Power Ltd, a special project company established by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to build and operate the scheme.Tanahu is located on the Upper Seti River, and key infrastructure includes a 140m high gravity dam, chute spillway, underground powerhouse and associated tunnels. The reservoir will have a sediment flushing capability to help maintain the active storage volume.Bhutan
The World Bank has appointed ÅF — a Swedish engineering and consulting company — to undertake an environmental and sustainability study of the 720MW Mangdechhu hydro project, currently under construction in Bhutan.ÅF is more than half way through the assignment on the Mangdechhu project being built in Trongsa Dzongkhag district in the centre of Bhutan.The run-of-river scheme is designed to operate under a minimum gross head of 344m, and includes significant dam and underground works: a 101.5m high concrete gravity dam, diversion tunnel, 13.5km long headrace, and powerhouse caverns.The consultant is due to report its findings to the bank and Bhutanese authorities before the middle of this year. The work is being conducted in accordance with the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, which covers a wide range of areas, including climate change and human rights.The Mangdechhu scheme is being developed by Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority — a joint venture of the governments of Bhutan and India, the latter providing most of the finance. The project is due for completion in 2018, generating more than 2900GWh/year, and supplying power domestically and to India.In fiscal year 2006-7, India's NHPC entered into an agreement with the Government of Bhutan to prepare a detailed project report of the proposed scheme, then envisaged with a capacity of 672MW. Feasibilities studies for the scheme were supported by Japan and Norway.SE AsiaThailand: Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana PS, Phase 2
ÅF is supporting the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) on the extension project to double the capacity of the 500MW Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana pumped storage plant.The underground plant has two pump-turbines in operation, and was initially commissioned in 2002. The 500MW expansion project at Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana is due for completion in late 2018.Lamtakong Jolabha Vadhana is located in Nakhon Ratchasima province, was the first underground plant hydro facility in Thailand and remains the principal plant supplying power in the northeast provinces, says Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Its upper reservoir is on Yai Tieng Mountain, and the powerhouse in 350m underground.Phase 2 of the project will add two further 250MW units, taking the total capacity of the PS plant to 1GW. Work at the plant is also to include installation of two circuits of 95km-long high-voltage transmission lines to connect with the Tha Lan 3 substation, in Saraburi province.ÅF signed a contract with EGAT to provide a range of services while the extension project is executed under by an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.The consultant's services include design review, project management, engineering and field services through all stages of execution, including commissioning.Vietnam: Lai Chau HEP
ÅF is also active in neighbouring Vietnam, where the consultant most recent began work on the supporting the implementation of the environmental and social action plan for the Lai Chau hydro project.The 1200MW Lai Chau project is under development on the Da River, in Lai Chau province, in the northwest of the country close to the border with China. Construction of the 131m high roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam at Lai Chau was completed in mid-2015.Lai Chau is being development by Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN). ÅF has already been working on the project as sub-consultant to Power Engineering Consulting JSC No1 (PECC1), a former subsidiary of EVN, and the assignment continues to 2017.ÅF was awarded the environmental and social action plan contract by Son La Hydropower Management Board (SLaMB). The board and ÅF worked together previously on the 2400MW Son La project, on the same river and also featuring a major, 138m high RCC dam. Son La was completed in early 2011.The environmental and social action plan contract for Lai Chau is funded by KfW, and ÅF is already working on another contract in Vietnam funded by the German development bank — gap analysis on environmental aspects of a smart grid transmission project. ÅF says the contract is similar to the objectives at Lai Chau by checking environmental and social due diligence, in this case for 6 x 220kV transmission lines.