Gomal Zam hydropower station restored to full capacity after eight years

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN LOWER: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has restored the affected generating units of the Gomal Zam Hydropower Station after eight years and successfully synchronised it with the national grid, bringing the facility back to its full generation capacity of 17.4 megawatts (MW). Officials said that both of the station’s generating units had ceased operations in October 2016 due to a major technical fault. One unit was repaired and brought back into service in June 2018, restoring half of the station’s installed capacity. However, the second unit remained out of service because of the complexity of the technical damage. As a result, the hydropower station continued operating at only half of its installed capacity, generating 8.7MW, for the past eight years. According to a statement issued by Wapda on Thursday, the restoration marks a significant milestone for the country’s hydropower sector. With both generating units now operational, the power station has resumed full-capacity electricity production, increasing the supply of low-cost and environmentally friendly hydropower to the national grid while strengthening the electricity system in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the Dera Ismail Khan Division. Wapda officials said the restored generating units were connected to the national grid after successfully completing all mandatory technical, operational and safety tests to ensure reliable and secure operation. The authority added that the hydropower station is now contributing its full generation capacity to Pakistan’s energy network. To restore the remaining units, Wapda launched a rehabilitation project in April 2026 at a cost of Rs359.5 million. The project was completed within 80 days, ahead of schedule, and the repaired unit was successfully recommissioned on June 25, 2026. The Gomal Zam Hydropower Station is connected to the national grid through the 132-kilovolt South Waziristan Lower-Tank transmission line