WAPDA: Hydropower generation rises by 4b units

The 96MW Jinnah Hydropower Project, which started a test run last week, is one of Wapda's hydropower projects. PHOTO: NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX WEBSITE

LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority increased its hydropower generation by four billion units between 2009 and 2011, allowing the national exchequer to save Rs40 billion.

Wapda generated about 31.5 billion units of hydropower during the fiscal year 2010-11, registering an increase of about four billion units compared to 2009-10. This additional contribution of low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid would have cost Rs40 billion had the government generated the equivalent quantity using thermal resources.

At a briefing on Monday, where Wapda’s Chairperson Shakil Durrani approved the annual accounts of Wapda Power Wing (Hydroelectric) for the fiscal year 2010-11, Power General Manager (Finance) Anwarul Haq said that this increased hydel generation was made possible due to efficient operation and management of hydropower stations and availability of more water in reservoirs.

Haq said that Wapda hydroelectric wing also managed to achieve average plant availability factor of 90% because of timely periodic preventive maintenance of its power stations as well as special maintenance works carried out at Tarbela, Mangla and Warsak power stations.

The additional revenue earned during FY2010-11 was injecting into Wapda’s ongoing power expansion plan, which includes Khan, Allai and Duber Khwars, Jinnah, Jabban and Golen Gol hydropower projects, he said.

Wapda currently operates 13 hydel power stations which have a total generation capacity of 6,500MW, which is one-third of the total installed capacity of the country’s power system.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2012.