High-Head Hydropower Project in Pakistan

A joint venture - consisting of Lahmeyer International and three Pakistani partners - revised a feasibility study for a 33 MW high-head hydropower plant on Harpo-Lungma River, a tributary of the Indus River. The objective is to contribute to an economic upturn for the population in the predominantly rural region throughout the mountain ranges of the Karakorum and the Himalaya.

The services of the joint venture comprised the verification and assessment of the existing feasibility study dating back to 2002, the updating of the basic parameters as well as the planning, tendering and supervision of the geotechnical and geophysical reconnaissance studies. Based upon the knowledge of the investigations, the experts prepared designs for a total of three alternatives for the hydropower plant with 700 m rated head. Rough designs including appropriate cost estimates for all alternatives were developed, resulting in a recommendation to the client in order to further optimize the favoured alternative.

The joint venture performed their services in close cooperation with the client – the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA) – and the KfW Bankengruppe as financier. Upon the results of the optimization, an important basis for decision-making for project continuation could be made. The construction of the hydropower plant would be of crucial importance for the region.