The Karot Hydropower Project in Pakistan, the first large-scale hydropower project invested by China under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was put into full operation on June 29, 2022.
Invested and developed by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), the Karot Hydropower Project is located on the Jhelum River in Pakistan's Punjab Province and has a total installed capacity of 720 megawatts.
It is one of the prioritized projects of CPEC and has been included in the Joint Statement between the Chinese and Pakistani governments.
The project broke ground in April 2015.
Upon full operation, it is expected to generate an average of 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, providing the country with competitive clean energy. The power output is estimated to meet the demands of about 5 million people, which will effectively relieve energy shortages in the country.
The output equals that produced by burning about 1.4 million metric tons of standard coal, eliminating 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which will play a role in realizing global carbon neutrality while boosting Pakistan's energy industry development and bolstering its economic and social prospects.
It's worth noting that the project is expected to provide more than 4,500 jobs for local people annually.
CTG has been devoted to clean energy development and at present has clean energy business in over 40 countries and regions with an overseas total installed capacity of about 18 million kilowatts.
Last but not least, during construction of the Karot Hydropower Project, CTG also actively fulfilled its social responsibility by participating in and organizing public welfare projects like launching scholarship programs, building schools and health facilities, renovating roads and implementing a biodiversity management plan.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
