ISLAMABAD, May 16 (INP): China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) will integrate into China and Pakistan’s overall cooperation and contribute more to Pakistan’s economic and social development, said Chen Xiaohua, President of CGGC.

Chen made the remarks when meeting with Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque in Wuhan, according to report published by China Economic Net (CEN).

Haque noted that a number of key projects invested and constructed by CGGC have played an important role in boosting Pakistan’s economic growth and creating jobs. He expected CGGC to continue engaging in the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and write a new chapter for Pak-China friendship.

CGGC first entered Pakistan in 2003 and started Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, its first hydropower project in 2008, according to Lyu Xiufeng, General Manager of Pakistan Branch of CGGC.

Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is called as Pakistan’s Three Gorges project (China's massive multi-functional water control facility on the Yangtze River, also the world's largest hydroelectric power project).

It took one decade for CGGC to complete this mega project because of its a high difficulty level of construction with 90 percent of the construction lying underground in high mountainous areas.

During 2008-2018, workers of CGGC had overcome one obstacle after another, by world-class technology, excellent capability and unremitting efforts.To ensure Neelum-Jhelum project’s security, CGGC chose the scheme of low dam and long diversion tunnel when designing the dam type. The length of its diversion tunnel is 68 kilometers, rare in the world.

The hardest part, about 17 km, to construct, is beneath a mountain. By the conventional drilling and blasting method, it would face huge challenges and its construction process would also prolong.

To solve the world-class technological problem of constructing this super long diversion tunnel, CGGC decided to use the state-of-the-art tunnel boring machine (TBM) in Pakistan for the first time.

Many famous experts in rock and soil mechanics and geologists once said that there had been no successful precedent of TBM tunneling in the Himalayas range, the youngest and most geologically active region in the world. Anyone who could successfully use TBM in the Himalayas would make history in tunnel construction.

In 2012, Pakistan’s first TBM came to the site of the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric project. Besides the technological problems, the Neelum-Jhelum project had been hit by four major natural disasters during the decade, each of which had pushed the project to the brink of failure, according to Feng Xinglong, vice general manager of CGGC, in charge of this project during March 2009 to December 2013.

For example, in May 2015, No. 696 Tunnel Boring Machine ran into a rockburst, the severest one of over 200 ones in four years, and was badly damaged. “I was very sad when arriving at the project site. On one hand, we had to conciliate frightened work staff. On the other hand, we must make a solution,” said Feng.

He added that, “After repeated research and argumentation, we decided to resume TBM.” However, the client of NJ project and the German manufacturer of TBM were both skeptical about whether it could be repaired. They once even proposed to discard it.

Amid the pressure, CGGC work staff had gradually dug TBM from the ruins like "ants gnawing a bone". The Chinese technicians quickly started repairing the damaged equipment on the spot and they made it within only seven months, which is a miracle.

Finally, TBM resumed tunneling on January 10, 2016. With its roar, TBM tunneled 3.06 meters on that day.

If CGGC had followed the advice of TBM’s manufacturer to replace all the damaged parts, they would have taken as long as one year to finish the procurement and shipping of the parts, plus a high cost.

For CGGC constructers, this project has forged the unique NJ spirit: “Staying calm on the edge of cliff, remaining perseverant in despair, and being responsible in face of catastrophes."

It is by the unique NJ spirit that CGGC had creatively solved various problems, pushed ahead and completed the mega project, which is designed to generate 5.15 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, accounting for 12 percent of Pakistan’s hydropower generation.

Besides easing power shortages in part of Pakistan, this project is estimated to generate a fiscal revenue of 45 billion rupees ($442 million) annually, according to CGGC. The Neelum-Jhelum is of great significance to promote local economic and social development and improve people's livelihood.

“For CGGC, excellent performance and project delivery are the best way to advertise ourselves. We win the trust of clients by our performance, profession and technology,” Lyu told China Economic Net (CEN).

Based on CGGC’s excellent performance in Pakistan and beyond, CGGC has been awarded more and more projects in Pakistan, including Dasu hydropower project, Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, Mohmand Dam hydropower project, Azad Pattan Hydropower Project, Balakot Hydropower Project and Karot Hydropower Project.

Haque appreciated the leading role of CGGC in Pakistan’s energy infrastructure development. Lyu told CEN that CGGC’s success belongs to the hardworking and talented team and every team member, both Chinese and Pakistani. For example, Laurel Wang, a Chinese girl, has been working in Pakistan for a decade so far.

China and Pakistan are iron brothers. However, there are still some differences, like language, religion, thinking and so on. Laurel, as a female, often meets some obstacles during work.

With the spirit of mutual respect, understanding and learning from each other, she tried her best to overcome these difficulties by learning the local culture and related knowledge. Now she is professional in dealing with these issues.

Lyu said, “Laurel in my understanding is a hero to the success of our business in Pakistan. She is one of the representatives of CGGC’s team. CGGC has thousands of heroes like her in Pakistan.”

INP/JAVED