China Gezhouba Group Starts Embankment Construction at Hydropower Station in Pakistan

According to reports on May 22 by the Indian Express, South China Morning Post, and Mint, the embankment construction of the main dam at the Mohmand Hydropower Project in Pakistan, undertaken by China Energy Engineering Corporation Gezhouba Group, commenced on the 17th, marking a key phase in the construction of the hydropower station.

Since 2019, China Energy Engineering Corporation has been implementing the Mohmand Dam Project (Mohmand Hydropower Project) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northern Pakistan. The original completion plan was set for 2026. As a comprehensive large-scale infrastructure project prioritized by the Pakistani government, the dam is being built on the Swat River, integrating power generation, regulation, irrigation, and water supply. It is expected that the annual average power generation of the hydropower station will reach 2.862 billion kWh, providing approximately 300 million gallons of drinking water daily for Peshawar city. Analysts point out that the Mohmand Hydropower Station project is crucial for Pakistan.

In terms of geopolitics, Pakistan is highly dependent on the Indus River Basin resources. Over 90% of its agricultural irrigation and 20% of its electricity are sourced from this basin. Given that India is located upstream and Pakistan downstream, if India strengthens reservoir construction in the basin after suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), it could pose significant risks to Pakistan's water supply. Therefore, building dams is a critical measure for Pakistan to address water resource risks.

Naturally, the Indus River frequently changes course between dry and rainy seasons, easily causing flooding. Coupled with seasonal droughts in many areas within Pakistan, managing water resources through dams is vital. However, multiple projects aided by China in Pakistan currently face varying degrees of difficulties. Among them, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam in the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir region is another significant hydropower project of China in Pakistan, expected to become "the largest dam in Pakistan's history." Currently, the project still faces strong opposition from India and protests from local residents.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832903584670723/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.