G-B’s vast hydropower potential remains untapped

200 sites have been identified where between 10MW to 550MW each can be produced

GILGIT: Although Gilgit-Baltistan can produce around 50,000 megawatts (MW) of hydropower, experts believe this target can only be achieved if the region’s unlocked potential is tapped.

According to studies conducted over the years, there are over 200 sites in G-B – in addition to the 45,000MW Diamer-Bhasha Dam and the 7,100MW Bunji Dam – that can help produce hydropower. Whether this will help power G-B or add to the national grid is a separate matter altogether.

A study jointly conducted by Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Aga Khan Development Network and the G-B government in 2011 suggested the region can contribute 42,000MW to the national grid.



In the pipeline

“The government is planning to involve World Bank to tap about 42,000 MW in G-B,” an official at the Chief Minister’s office told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

“Over 200 potential sites for hydropower production in G-B have been identified,” he said. “It is likely foreign investors from World Bank would be taken to the site this year.”

As per the G-B CM office official, the sites have the capacity to produce cheap power. Many of these sites have the potential to produce between 10 MW to 550 MW of hydropower each.

Power priority

Chief Minister Hafeezur Rahman recently told the media one of the major challenges faced by G-B is that the region is not linked to the national grid. He vowed to ensure hydropower production improves during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, Information Deputy Director Farooq Ahmed said resolving the power crisis in G-B is the government’s top priority.

“The chief minister is committed to overcome the energy crisis and ensure power supply is sufficient for the rest of the country,” Ahmed said.

He said the chief minister CM wants to increase power generation to the extent that people can use electricity for cooking and heating. “If it is achieved, it will reduce deforestation as fewer trees will need to be cut,” he added.



Back in time

On January 7, 2014, the federal government announced initial plans to involve World Bank in unlocking the untapped hydropower potential of G-B to overcome the energy crisis.

This initiative focused on small projects instead of major ones such as Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Bunji Dam.

In June 2012, the previous G-B government approved 13 hydropower projects in the region to put an end to the ongoing power crisis. The projects cost over Rs7 billion. The announcement was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the then chief minister, Mehdi Shah. During the meeting, participants also decided to construct a grid station to ensure equal distribution of power to all districts of G-B. They also called for efforts to control power theft.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2016.