WAPDA prioritises least-cost energy generation

Says 17 large hydel projects on the table; to produce 20,000MW electricity.

ISLAMABAD: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is implementing a least-cost energy generation plan to help reduce the electricity shortfall on a priority basis. The project will aim to increase the ratio of low-cost hydel electricity in the national grid.

Under the plan, 17 large projects are under construction or at a detailed engineering stage. Once completed, they will generate more than 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity and store about 12 million acre feet (MAF) of water, official sources told APP here on Wednesday.

Emphasising the importance of hydropower to meet electricity needs in the country, they said that hydropower was the cheapest source of electricity generation, using indigenous resources. The average tariff for hydel electricity is Rs1.54 per unit, as compared to the overall electricity tariff of about Rs9 per unit, they said.

The sources said that seven projects with cumulative capacity of more than 1,500MW were under construction. Out of these, five projects of about 400MW will be completed during the current year, while the 969MW Neelum Jhelum, and the 106 MW Golen Gol hydropower projects were progressing at a steady pace.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2012.