Water availability falls due to population growth, depleting storage capacity. PHOTO: FILE
It has already inaugurated Golen Gol Hydropower Project in January and Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project in February this year.
“These three projects will add 2,487 megawatts of low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid,” Wapda’s Additional Chief Engineer (Dams) Shahid Hamid said.
He was giving a briefing on future challenges and prospects of water and power development in Pakistan during study tour of a delegation of the Command and Staff College, Quetta to the Wapda House on Monday.
Neelum-Jhelum project to begin operations in Feb 2018
Hamid pointed out that per capita water availability had decreased in Pakistan due to rapid growth in population and depleting water storage capacity of the reservoirs because of the natural phenomenon of sedimentation.
He regretted that Pakistan could store only 10% of its annual river flows against the world average of 40%.
“Wapda is committed to optimum development of water and hydroelectric power resources in the country and is working on a comprehensive strategy,” he said.
Hamid emphasised that the Indus cascade was Pakistan’s most precious asset which would help to add a big quantum of cheap hydel generation and water storages. He added that an additional millions of acres could be brought under irrigation because of construction of new reservoirs.
Water filling begins at Neelum-Jhelum project
He told the delegation that Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam (stage-I) and Naulong Dam were ready for construction. These dams have total storage capacity of more than 8 million acre feet (maf) and will produce about 5,000 megawatts of cheap hydel electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2018.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ