Tarbela Dam: Summer heat helps increase power production

HARIPUR:

The rising temperature in Hazara and northern regions have increased the inflow of water in Tarbela reservoir due to faster melting of glacier, in turn leading to increased electricity generation, official sources told The Express Tribune.

The sources said due to increased inflow of water the reservoir is short by about 100 feet of the maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet.

Tarbela has three tunnels with 14 power generating units installed with a total capacity of 3,478 megawatts of electricity.

During August and September, when the reservoir is filled to its peak level, the power generation capacity rises to 3600 megawatts.

The initial work on the fourth extension of Tarbela power house is to be completed by the end of this year.

Tarbela is the largest mud-filled dam in the world and one of the largest sources of hydroelectric power in the country, which accounts for about one-fifth of all electricity produced in the country.

The government is in the process of trying to enhance hydroelectric power generation by building more dams, but has been facing difficulty in getting financing for some of its largest projects, though the Asian Development Bank recently agreed to provide funding for the Diamer-Bhasha dam.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2011.