Rock Collapse Forces Emergency at Chinese-Built Tarbela Dam Expansion in Pakistan

An emergency was declared and construction halted at Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project after a rock mass collapse during tunnel excavation on November 9th. The collapse breached a protective bund, flooding under-construction tunnels and powerhouse facilities. This incident follows a previous cofferdam breach that already delayed the project and significantly escalated costs, prompting further investigations.

• A rock mass collapsed during tunnel excavation at the Tarbela Dam 5th Extension Project on November 9th.
• The collapse breached a protective bund, causing water to flood the tunnels and powerhouse facilities.
• An emergency was declared, and routine construction was suspended.
• The 1,530-megawatt project is contracted to China’s PowerChina and co-financed by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
• This incident follows a previous cofferdam breach that delayed the project until approximately 2028 and increased costs by over 285 percent.
• Further investigations into site engineering and contractor execution have been triggered.