After nine years, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has restored the damaged power generating unit of Gomal Zam Hydel Power Station in South Waziristan, synchronizing it with the national grid following successful commissioning tests. The restoration brings the plant back to its original installed generation capacity of 17.4MW, benefiting remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Full Capacity Restored After Years of Partial Operation
WAPDA spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that Unit No.1 is now fully functional, allowing the power station to operate at its full installed capacity of 17.4MW. For the past eight years, the plant had been running at half capacity—only 8.7MW—due to the damage. The facility consists of two generating units, each of 8.7MW, with an annual generation capacity of 90.9 million units, connected to the national grid via a 132 KV South Waziristan-Tank transmission line.
History of Damage and Restoration
Both units became non-operational in October 2016 due to a technical fault that rendered the Reverse Power protection relay inoperative. WAPDA managed to restore Unit No. 2 in June 2018 using in-house expertise and resources. However, Unit No.1 could not be repaired earlier due to the nature of the damage and the law and order situation in the area, which hampered restoration works for about 10 years.
Rehabilitation Works Completed in 80 Days
The rehabilitation works for Unit No.1 were awarded to a joint venture at a cost of Rs 359.5 million. Work commenced on April 5, 2026, and was successfully completed in 80 days on June 25, 2026. According to WAPDA, all commissioning tests were completed to ensure safe and reliable operation of the unit.
Gomal Zam Dam: A Multi-Purpose Project
Gomal Zam Hydel Power Station is a component of the Gomal Zam Dam, a multi-purpose project designed to ensure water availability for irrigated agriculture, flood mitigation, and affordable electricity generation. Since its completion in 2013, it has played a key role in poverty alleviation in the area. The project has a gross water storage capacity of 1.14 million acre feet and can irrigate 191,139 acres of land.
