LAHORE:
In order to better utilise hydropower resources in the country, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has awarded a Rs164 million contract to consulting firms MWH (USA) and Nespak (Pakistan) to carry out a feasibility study to upgrade the 1,000-MW (megawatts) Mangla Power Station.
Expected to be completed in October 2011, the study is aimed at accessing existing operating conditions, studying various options for refurbishment of electro-mechanical equipment and recommending the most viable option for upgrading the power station.
Mangla Power Station upgradation was part of a two-pronged strategy, implemented by Wapda on a priority to overcome energy shortage in the country and maximise the ratio of low-cost hydel electricity in the National Grid. Through this strategy, Wapda not only constructed a number of mega projects, but also upgraded its old power stations.
During high reservoir level period, Mangla Power House is able to generate 1,150 MW against the rated capacity of 1,000 MW due to permissible overloading of 15 per cent.
Wapda planned upgrading the existing Mangla Power House on two counts; the first was because of ageing electro-mechanical equipment and the second was increased water availability due to the raised Mangla Dam.
The dam infrastructure had been raised by another thirty feet, and this made 2.9 million acre feet capacity of additional water available in the reservoir for irrigation and generation purposes. According to preliminary studies, the generation capacity of Mangla Power Station will likely increase to about 200 MW.
Besides up-gradation of Mangla Power House, 22-MW Jabban Power House is also being rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 3.7 billion. In addition, the contract for rehabilitation and up-gradation of 243-MW Warsak Power House will also be finalised soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2011.
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