ISLAMABAD: The Rs503 billion Neelum-Jhelum project of 969MW has sustainedanother blow as its unit-1of 242.25MW has also started leaking oil and themanagement has halted its operation on May 31. The unit-4 is already closeddown after its rotor was damaged.
According to the management of the project, the unit-4 will take at leastfour months to come on stream, but officials at the site insisted claimingthe unit-4 will take 8-9 months to start generating electricity as it hasbeen dismantled by Chinese experts from Herbin city who will get itrepaired.
Now, under the new scenario, the unit-1 of the project has also been closeddown on May 31 — the last day of the PML-N government on account of oilleaking from its seal.
The oil was leaking for more than one week, but the management decided tokeep the unit-1 operational till May 31 to avoid the wrath from the top manof the PML-N government, putting aside the fact that the unit-1 may sustainmore damage if it was run till May 31.
However, on the last day of the government, the management has closed downthe unit-1. Officials privy to the development said that this unit may alsotake 1-2 months to repair the seal to avoid the oil leakage. This meansthat the project would not be able to inject half of its electricity intothe system for certain period.