ISLAMABAD: Balakot Hydropower project reaches key milestone as River Kunhar changes, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday.
Under a clear blue sky in Balakot, with just a few small clouds adding to the beauty of the mountains, trucks and excavators lined the rocky banks of the River Kunhar.
With the final shovel of earth dropped, the river’s flow was successfully diverted into the newly built diversion tunnel, marking a major milestone in the Balakot Hydropower Project (BHPP).
On Saturday, the dam of the BHPP, which is undertaken by China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC), a core member of China Energy Engineering Group, achieved river diversion and closure, moving the project into its main phase of dam construction.
The diversion used a single-side blocking method, with cofferdams built from both banks toward a pre-designed sluice opening, guided by hydraulic calculations to ensure stability.
The ceremony was attended by Chinese officials and representatives from Pakistani departments, including the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), which is implementing the 300 MW project with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
According to CGGC, the project has created more than 2,000 local jobs and boosted related industries such as power, construction materials, and services.
Habibullah Shah, CEO of PEDO and project director of BHPP, called the ceremony “a visible transition from early-stage preparations to the core construction phase,” adding that it shows strong coordination among all partners.
Located on the Kunhar River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the 49-meter-high dam includes an underground powerhouse and a 9.1-kilometer headrace tunnel.
It is CGGC’s second successful diversion on the river, following the 884 MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, completed in 2024.
