TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION

BACKGROUND

Technical Services division was created in 2002 to render advisory / expert services on various projects of Vision 2025. Since then, the division has been providing technical assistance on different water resources and hydroelectric projects, including completion of Feasibility Study and Detailed Engineering of Diamer Basha Dam Project. After conclusion of detailed engineering studies, Diamer Basha Dam Project has entered into implementation stage under a separate organization.

 
ORGANIZATION

The office of the General Manager (Technical Services) supervise different offices / formations:

Office of Chief Engineer (Technical Services) reviews various engineering studies being carried out in WAPDA and provides technical support for trouble shooting and problem solving for various projects. Valuable inputs have been provided on various projects, such as  Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, Pelar Storage Dam Project, Bunji Hydropower Project, Lower Spat Gah Project, Lower Palas hydropower Project, Dasu Hydropower Project, Phandar Hydropower Project, Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project, Harpo Hydropower Project and Basho Hydropower Project. This unit also carries out special inspections of WAPDA projects as and when authorized and prepares necessary technical reports. In addition, Technical Services also performs coordination functions to streamline the work of lower formations of the division, reviews and comments on feasibility /design for water and hydropower projects undertaken by various consultants as referred by project authorities.

In 2008, The World Bank initiated WCAP (Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services Project). The main objective of this programme is to support capacity development and water institutions building. The project is scheduled to be implemented over a period of five years (September 2008-2013). Component B of WCAP relates to WAPDA which is associated with improvement in Water Resources Management and Development.

The office of the Chief Engineer (Technical Services) is the focal point for the activities of sub component B-3 i.e. Assets Management, as detailed below:

a)         Purchase of Antelope Software for Micro Seismic Data Analysis

WAPDA has installed a Micro Seismic Monitoring System (MSMS) of ten remote field stations in the seismically active Northern Areas of Pakistan. WAPDA is planning to extend the MSMS to thirty-five field stations for the safety monitoring of its present and future large Dams/Hydropower Projects. It will require an advanced system of hardware/software to handle huge seismic data for processing, further analysis and interpretations. This system has been acquired from M/s Kinemetrics and installed at Tarbela. Training has also been imparted to WAPDA Seismologist/Geophysicist regarding installation and use of the software from March 05, 2010 to March 21, 2010. This activity has been completed in all respects, and the system is working as intended.

   b)          Purchase of Equipment for CMTL

Planning  and Design of Civil Engineering Works require geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing of construction materials under simulated field conditions. Testing facilities are essential for ensuring public safety and for finding solutions to complex problems.

The capacity building for CMTL under WCAP will be carried out in two phases. Phase-I consists of procurement of the new equipments for upgrading the Rock Mechanics Section of CMTL through International Competitive Bidding. The contract amounting to US $ 0.587 million signed with M/S National Scientific Corporation, Lahore on 25.07.2011 under WCAP Component B3 Phase-I for CMTL. All Equipment as per Contract have been arrived at CMTL Lahore. The training of CMTL personnel on 3000 KN Automatic Compression Machine with M/s Controls, Italy completed from 29th November, 2011 to 6th December, 2011. The training of CMTL personnel on Dilatometer for hard rock with M/s Roctest, Canada completed from 11th May, 2012 to 18th May, 2012 while, training from M/s Kyle Equipment from USA scheduled from 13th September, 2012 to 22nd Septemebr, 2012.

Under Phase-II, the equipments are required for the following special tests for Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) to be procured;  

• Creep test for various mixes and ages of loading.

• Autogenous volume change.

• Adiabatic Temperature rise for various mixes, retarders and start temperatures.

• Specific Heat, Diffusivity or Conductivity.

• Direct tensile stress- strain Curves and modulus of Cores taken from adiabatic temperature rise samples after testing.

The procurement under Phase-II consisting of equipments for special tests as well as on job training of the CMTL staff is under process. Contract agreement with Dr. Ernest Schrader (RCC specialist) for Consultancy Services was signed 04-07-2011. The Consultant shall provide the following services.

• Provide Detailed Plan for up-gradation of CMTL and Finalization of Equipment List and Fabrication Design.

• Provide details for special construction and arrangements required to install the equipment.

• Provide practice session to the CMTL staff and arrange with overseas laboratories for imparting training to CMTL Personnel for representative.

• Presentation on work done, preparing and delivering an acceptable final completion report and manuals for conducting these tests.

For procurement of RCC equipment, World Bank has suggested ICB process for shelf and non-shelf items as a result of audio conference held on 20 June 2012 and World Bank has given approval of Procurement Plan for shelf and non-shelf items. The process is in progress.

(c)           Dam Safety Training

In order to enhance the capacity and expertise of the WAPDA Engineers, foreign training from USBR has been planned to be provided in various dams engineering disciplines under WCAP. Four Engineers have completed eight weeks training at USA from USBR in the following engineering discipline.

• Dam Safety Inspection

• Reservoir Sedimentation

• Roller Compacted Concrete

• Seismicity

• Hydropower Projects

• Concrete Technology

• Tunneling

•  Geotechnical

• Instrumentation

2. Chief Engineer, Dams Safety Organization (DSO)

The office of Chief Engineer, Dams Safety Organization (DSO) carries out Annual, Periodic and Special Inspections of various dams.

3. Director General (Environment) / WEC

The office of Director General (Environment)/WAPDA Environment Cell, reviews the environmental aspects of various project and implements Environment Management Plans and facilitates the clearance of WAPDA’s projects from various environmental protection agencies. It also oversees the work of consultants engaged in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) studies for different hydropower projects.

4. Project Director, Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL)

Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL) has very important role in material testing and field investigation of various projects being undertaken by WAPDA. Details may be accessed from the link http://cmtl/wapda.com.pk/html/cmtl.html.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Presently the Technical Services division shouldering advisory / technical responsibilities for different WAPDA projects along with the administrative control of the following sub-formations: 

• Dams Safety Organization (DSO)
• Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL)
• WAPDA Environment Cell (WEC)

• Recently, Technical Services has given valuable technical comments on various Hydropower Projects reports which includes Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project - Draft Bidding documents of LOT Civil, Detailed Engineering of Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project, Inception report of Dasu Hydropower Project, Draft Design Reports of Bunji Hydropower Project, Feasibility Report of Pelar Storage Dam Project, Feasibility Study Reports of Lower Spat Gah Hydropower Project and Lower Palas Valley Hydropower Project, Inception Report of Phander Hydropower project, Inception Report & Draft Detail Engineering Design Report of Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project, Inception report of Basho Hydropower Project, Inception Report & Midterm Report of Harpo Hydropower, Draft Feasibility Report of Mangla Marala Link Canal Project, and use of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).

• Provided comments on Kehmil Small Plant, Ranja-AIa Dunadi Hydroelectric Plant, Marpo-Choo Micro Hydel Project, Baglihar Hydrelectric Plant stage-II, Dumkhar Mini Hydel Project w.r.t. Indus Water Treaty on following Proejct:

• Executive Contract Under Collaboration Agreement Between WAPDA And IWHR China

Technical Services division is providing the corrdination among IWHR China and the project authorities for the Executive Contract Agreement signed on October 18, 2010 between IWHR China and WAPDA amounting to US$ 2,314,945. The following studies have been included for collaboration;

a. Gomal Zam Dam

Technical Assistance for design review of the right abutment works and elimination of the Surge Shaft.

b. Three High Head Hydropower Projects 

Technical assistance for sediment management of three Hydropower Projects (Khan Khwar, Duber Khwar Allai Khwar HPPs). Also, Technical assistance for investigating turbine sediment erosion problem to evolve technical plans to minimize the turbine sediment erosion.

c. Upgrading for CMTL

Refurbishment and Up-gradation to meet the testing demands of ongoing projects in the fields of RCC dams and underground works.

d. High Efficiency Irrigation System in the Command Areas of Two Dam

Technical assistance for establishing pilot projects, up gradation of water saving laboratory, technical personnel training and construction of drip irrigation tape manufactory.

e. Diamer Basha Dam

Review of spillway design through physical modeling (shaking table test) against earthquake.

The studies/research on the above projects are almost completed as IWHR China has submitted the Final Reports. In continuation of this research collaboration, another MoU regarding the fifth Hydrographic Survery of Chashma Reservoir bas been signed in May 2012.