WAPDA plans to generate 300 MW cheap electricity

Renewable energy will be obtained by putting floating solar panels over water bodies

HARIPUR:

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has envisaged a unique new plan to generate 300 megawatts of renewable and lo-cost electricity through floating photovoltaic power plant.

Sources said that cheap electricity will be obtained by putting solar panels over water bodies.

The project will cost 325 million dollars. The World Bank will provide special funding for completion of the project.

The PC-1 of the project has been completed and sent to the planning division for approval of the project from where early approval is likely.

The project will be completed in a span of two and a half years which will generate an additional 300 MW of electricity and help overcome load-shedding in the summer.

Sources said that floating solar panels will soon be installed in Ghazi Tarbela Dam, Ghazi Bharutha Dam Lake and Power House Lake in the Haripur area, which will lead to a significant reduction in power shortfalls across the country.

The Tarbela 5th Extension is one of the 10 mega projects being implemented by Wapda to double the existing hydel generation and add over 9,000 megawatts to the national grid from 2022 to 2028 in a phased manner.

Last week, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub inaugurated gas supply projects costing over Rs172 million.

The projects will provide gas to the residents of Changi Bandi, Mohri No-1 and Akhon Bandi areas.

While addressing a large gathering, Omar Ayub said that the area residents have been provided with the gas facility after overcoming the long-standing problems of electricity. As a result, he said, the lifestyle of the people in the rural areas will also improve rapidly.

Meanwhile, on the 13th consecutive day, the water level of Tarbaila Dam remained at 1392 feet which is 11 feet above dead level.

Eleven power generation units of Tarbaila dam have been shut down due to the low water level in the lake and power production capacity has also reached its lowest.

According to the Tarbaila Dam officials, the water level of the Tarbaila dam remained 11 feet above the dead level which is 1392 feet, where only six power generation units were producing 251 megawatts of electricity and they are also not working with full capacity either.

The Tarbela dam officials disclosed that owing to decreased water inflow in the dam the capacity of Tarbaila power production reduced from 3478 megawatts to only 251 megawatts.Water inflow in the dam was 16900 cusecs and outflow 16400 cusecs feet, dam officials also stated that owing to the low inflow of water we have decreased the outflow in Ghazi Brotha and Indus River.

A huge cut in water supply for the Khreef crop affect the crops in Punjab and Sindh provinces.

With additional input from APP

 

3Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2022.