Tarbela dam officials told APP that the project was initially designed to complete in 2018 but on the special directives of the Prime Minister now it would start power generation during 2017.

The project would help increase the existing capacity of the dam from 3,478MW to 4,888MW after installation of three units of 1,410MW on Tunnel 4 with the capacity of 410MW each, the officials added.

Unit number 17 of the extension project would start power generation during 2017 while rest of the two units would be completed in 2018, the officials informed.

This project is a joint venture of the World Bank and Wapda where the former has provided 840 million dollars and the latter contributed 80 million dollars to complete it.

The experts said this extended hydropower project would provide about 3.84 billion units low-cost electricity to consumers and the entire cost of the project would be recovered within three years, adding the expected annual benefits of the project are more than Rs30.7 billion.

The completion of this project would help to overcome the energy shortfall besides increasing the life of Tarbela dam, they added.