A Chinese engineer has spent several years working on the construction of a record-breaking dam in northern Pakistan, gaining admiration from his Pakistani colleagues for his expertise and dedication as quality manager on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project.
The 272-meter-high Diamer-Bhasha Dam, under construction in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is set to be a groundbreaking feat of engineering, promising to transform the region’s water resources and energy capacity.
As a landmark project of China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation, it will be the tallest roller compact concrete dam in the world, with an installed capacity of 4.5 million kilowatt once completed, generating an estimated 18.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year.
The dam has been dubbed Pakistan's "Three Gorges Project" by local media. As a key initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a group of Chinese engineers and constructors are now working diligently on the project. Tuo Yu, a member of the Chinese construction team, has played a pivotal role as the project's quality manager, drawing on his extensive domestic experience to make significant contributions to the construction methods.
"Once [the dam] is completed, [the water level] will essentially reach the position of the sign [up there on the mountain]. By then, [the dam] will be truly spectacular, and the entire upstream area will be transformed into a massive reservoir," said Tuo.
When the team first arrived at the construction site, equipment could only be transported using cableway components, with the river posing significant obstacles. Tuo and the team designed and swiftly constructed three cableway bridges above the river, which provided crucial access for the equipment required for the subsequent diversion works.
"It was harsh winter months when we built the bridges here, with biting cold winds and freezing temperatures. To meet [the project] goals, all the workers [worked] over night with thick winter gear on. Even if the bridges had been delayed by just one month, the work on the opposite bank would have been set back by the same amount of time. Therefore, it was a critical step. It was the first and decisive procedure that opened the way for the entire project," said Tuo.
Over the past 12 years since entering the industry in 2013, Tuo has successively participated in the construction of Pakistan’s Tarbela Hydropower Station and the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. He has won the recognition from the Pakistani counterparts with his hardworking spirit and outstanding professional expertise.
"He's quite admirable and his contributions are very good. I'm simply admire his collaboration and his guidance for the engineers," said Zeeshan Ullah Baig, a Pakistani quality engineer.
Chinese engineer contributes to record-breaking dam project in northern Pakistan
