Hydropower Resources, Potential and Challenges in Pakistan

Background:

Pakistan has been blessed with ample water resources and with great potential of hydel energy, but

could store only 13% of the annual flow of its rivers. Pakistan inherited a very small power base of

only 60 MW capacity for its 31.5 million

people. At the time of creation of WAPDA in

1958, the country's total hydropower

capacity was enhanced to 119 MW. With

the signing of Indus Basin Water Treaty in

1960, Pakistan was entitled to use 142 MAF

(Indus 93, Jhelum 23 and Chenab 26) of

surface water. Subsequently, 240 MW

Warsak, 1000 MW Mangla and 3478 MW Tarbela Hydropower Projects. According to the report by

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan has the potential of 100,000MW of

hydro power with identified sites of 59,000MW.pakistan only has 30% water storage capacity,

which is also depleting due to fast sedimentation in the reservoirs. In contrast United States of

America has developed 497% storage capacity of the annual flow of River Colorado; Egypt possesses

281% of River Nile and India 35% on the Sutlej-Bias Basin. All these statistics warrant construction of

number of reservoirs to enhance availability of water which stands at 1070 cubic meters per capita

and anything below 1000 cubic meters tantamount to a crisis situation.

Pakistan is a water rich country, but, unfortunately, Pakistan’s energy market investment in hydel

power generation has been caught up in confusion and contradiction for many years, and no

significance project has been achieved so far.

Monetary value of Hydro Energy in comparison to other Energy Sources:

Sr. # Type fo Energy Cost in Per Kilowatt Hour (Rs)

1 Hydro Electric Power 1.25

2 Coal-fired Power 12.5

3 Furnace Oil-based electricity 16

4 Wind Power 11

5 Solar Electricity 19.33

Energy Mix Situation in Pakistan:

1960: Hydro-Thermal = 44:56

2018: Hydro-Thermal = 25:75

Since the fossil fuel is imported which creates energy circular debt which has reached to Rs922

billion which is about 15 % of the total budget outlay of the Country (Budget of 2018-19 = Rs.

5,932.5 billion) thus creating much stress on the economic growth as pursuing high tariff energy

option instead of low tariff through Hydro energy.

Efficiency of Hydro Power in Pakistan:

Hydro Power Generation (Watt) = water flow rate (Kg/sec) X head (m) X g (m/sec2).

The normal efficiency of hydel plants is around 65-70%. The results generated by this equation

when multiply by efficiency can give the power producing capacity at any place on the river or

canal. The minimum head requirement is usually 10m.

Types of Potential hydel Power resources in Pakistan

1. Medium of Large Dams : > 50 MW.

2. Small Dams less than: < 50 MW

3. Canal system with a total of 58,450 km watercourses, farm channels and field ditches running

another 160,000 km in length has a huge hydropower potential at numerous locations, ranging

from 1 MW to more than 10 MW hydro plants can be installed.

Hydropower resources & Hydropower projects in Pakistan

The total installed capacity of hydropower projects in the Country up till 2016 is 7,027 MW, out of

which 57% is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25% in Punjab, 15% in AJ&K and 5% in Gilgit Baltistan.

Whereas abundant hydropower potential is still untapped which is yet to be harnessed.

1 SHYDO

1 SHYDO: Sarhad Hydel development Organization1

Hydropower potential in provinces of Pakistan

HYDROPOWER POTENTAIL IN KHYBER PUKHTOON KHWA

About 142 project sites with a total capacity of 24736 MW were identified having high, medium and

small head. Out of these, 19 projects are in operation, 27 sites are under implementation in the public

sector, whereas

10 sites are under implementation in the

private sector. Mainly, these are run-of-river

sites, with small daily pondage for peaking.

projects in operation with the total capacity

of 3849 MW; Project which are under

implementation in public sector mainly by

WAPDA/SHYDO are with the total

capacity of 9482 MW. Details of the projects

under implementation in private sector with

total capacity of 2398 MW , raw project sites are with the total capacity of 8930 MW, while the

solicited sites with total capacity of 77MW.

HYDROPOWER POTENTAIL IN PUNJAB

At different canals and barrages, about 330 potential

canal sites with a total capacity of 7291 MW were

identified having medium and small heads. Out of

these, 8 projects with capacity of 1699 MW are in

operation, one site is under implementation in the

public sector by WAPDA, whereas 5 projects with a

capacity of 24 MW on canal falls are under construction

in Public sector by Govt. of Punjab. e projects in operation and under implementation

in the public sector are with the total capacity of 1699 MW and 720 MW respectively, while details

of projects being implemented in the Private Sector with the total capacity of 1028 MW. raw project

sites with the total capacity of about 238 MW. Solicited sites with the total capacity of 3606 MW.

HYDROPOWER RESOURCES IN AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR

Altogether about 68 hydropower sites with a total potential of 6450 MW have been identified with

high, medium and small heads. Out of these 68 hydropower sites, 9 projects with a capacity of 1039

MW are in operation, 23 sites are under implementation in

the public sector and 22 sites in the private sector. Mainly,

these are run-of-river sites, having small daily storage for

peak hours. projects in operation with the total capacity of

1039 MW, while details of the projects which are under

implementation in public sector and private sector with the total capacity of 1231MW and 3264 MW

respectively; while raw project sites with the total capacity of 915 MW, One project at Ban Nalla

with a capacity of 1 MW is a solicited site.

HYDROPOWER RESOURCES IN GILGIT-BALTISTAN

About 278 projects sites with a total capacity of 21125 MW were identified having high, medium and

small heads. Out of these, 98 projects are in operation, 31 projects are being processed/implemented

under the public sector through NAPWD and one in the

private sector. Except Diamer Basha and Skardu dam, most of

these sites are run-of-river, with some having daily pondage

for peaking. projects in operation are with the total capacity of

133 MW while projects under implemention in the public and

private sector with total capacity of 11876 MW and 40 MW respectively, raw site projects are with

total capacity of 8542 MW, while solicited sites are with total capacity of 534 MW.

HYDROPOWER RESOURCES IN SINDH

Altogether, eighteen potential sites of an estimated total capacity of 193 MW with medium and

low head at different canals have been identified. raw sites of projects are with the total capacity of

126 MW while solicited projects are with total capacity of 67 MW.

HYDROPOWER POWER PROJECT IN BALUCHISTAN

The National Water Resources Development Programme for Baluchistan included 8 irrigation

projects, but none of them have the required head to generate electricity. Presently, no hydropower

projects are in operation or under implementation in Baluchistan Province either in the public or

private sector.

Controversy of Katzarah Dam

The Katzarah dam site, identified in 1960 has the capacity to store 27 million acre feet of water and

produce more than 15,000MW of electricity. However the option of Skardu/Katzarah dam project

for further planning has been dropped from Wapda’s 2025 Vision programme.

The project did not receive much attention because of; a) access problem, b) even an 8 MAF

reservoir at this site will totally submerge the entire Skardu and Shigar valleys, c) fertile and

productive land under agriculture with fruit orchards of about 13,363.5 hectares falling in the

reservoir area will come under water and any alternate land to be provided to land owners/farmers of

the displaced population was not available, d) From defense point of view, the strategic control of the

Siachen and Kargil sectors and of the Line of Control by Pakistan Army and PAF from Skardu will be

lost because the operational activities of the two institutions will be badly affected while on the other

hand, a huge infrastructure developed in Skardu and Gamba costing billions of rupees will also be

submerged, e) 12,000 feet runway, along with all civil engineering infrastructure controlled by the

Civil Aviation Authority will come under water while a cadet college recently established will be

submerged, f) Shangrila Motel considered as a beautiful cultural and recreational resort will be

submerged besides 40 kilometers of metaled road from Skardu to Shigar on the left side of Shigar

river, g) Access to the villages outside the reservoir periphery will be disconnected while a possibility

to provide an alternate access does not exist, h) negative effect on the Satpara dam which is currently

under construction.

BARRIERS IN THE HYDRO DEVELOPMENT:

Limited financial resources both for project studies and implementation.

Low Political will and lukewarm priority

Long term investment returns starts coming after long time.

Long investigations and gestation period of hydropower projects.

Remote location of promising potential sites and dilapidated infrastructure.

Lack of trained manpower.

Non availability of local manufacturing facility for electro-mechanical equipments.

Lack of experienced local construction companies for medium to large size HPPs.

Less response from private investors in implementing hydropower projects.

Security situation.

Strategies for Water Resources Development for Storage Dams:

If Pakistan is to develop economically and raise living standards, 50,000MW should be added in the

next 15 years. That is where the construction of Bhasha, Dasu and Bunji (16,000MW) on a fast

track is imperative together with Munda and Akhori or consideration of Katzarah dam. Each year’s

delay in Bhasha is costing the economy over $3 billion.

Although the installation cost of hydel plants is higher than the thermal power plants due to heavy

structural and civil work. It is usually US$2 million per MW. If the government decided to install

1,500MW hydel projects per year; approximately Rs330 billion will be required to invest every

year. Out of which 80% can be taken as a loan from the financial institutes. The cost of electricity

produced by these plants is approximately Rs8 per unit (including cost of loan and its repayment )

cheaper as compared to thermal power plants. The annual energy supplied by a 1,500MW hydel

plant would be 6,570 million electricity units. This shows an annual saving of Rs52 billion. The

total amount of investment can be recovered in less than seven years and life of the project is

proximately fifty years. In addition to this, it will also save the foreign exchange required to

purchase fuel and also very much environmentally friendly.

Way Forward for Advocacy and Mass Awareness:

The advocacy campaign may take a holistic picture in addition to the construction of dams and other

aspects of water also requires a massive public awareness on an immediate basis to create awareness

about conservation measures and more comprehensive policies to address the water crisis effectively.

1. Surface Water:

Pakistan’s renewable water resources have decreased significantly. Pakistan won’t become water

scarce in 2025 because, for all intents and purposes, it’s already water scarce. Per capita availability

hovers around 1,000 cubic metres, the scarcity threshold. In some areas, the Indus has been reduced

to a puddle, bringing misery to farmers and an agricultural sector that dominates the economy.

Drought conditions are endemic in Baluchistan. In Karachi, residents receive fewer than 500 million

gallons of water per day, well below 50 per cent of daily needs. There has been a gradual decline in

surface water flows and our Even the estimates of the total renewable water resources at 138.4 MAF

suggest a water availiabity of 823 cubic meters per capita per year which is significantly lower than

1,000 cubic meters. According to the United Nations Development Program’s report, “The

Vulnerability of Pakistan’s Water Sector to the Impacts of Climate Change”, Pakistan needs to build

at least 13 dams having a water storage capacity equivalent to the Kalabagh dam.

Most of us believe that the construction of the Kalabagh dam will solve Pakistan’s water crisis which

seems not true as the active water storage capacity of the Kalabagh dam is estimated to be 6.1 million

acre-feet (MAF),whereas Pakistan is expected to face a demand-supply gap of approximately 83 MAF

by 2025. Similarly Basham dam which has the storage capacity of only 6.4 MAF and on the other

hand our Indus basin system operates at 40% efficiency and 48 MAF water is conveyance losses.

Further resources must be mobilized for Basha dam for its early completion and consensus may be

developed for other dams. Further if Big dams cannot be built due to financial or political issues; start

commissioned the hydraulic structure by each provinces either at river head of canal head so that

multiple reservoir capacities can supplement the demand-supply paradigm. WAPDA Water vision

has to be updated accordingly and in accordance with new water policy approved by Council of

Common interest.

2. Ground Water:

Pakistan’s Groundwater depletion rate is one of the highest in the world. Currently, Pakistan extracts

50 MAF of groundwater which is mainly used for irrigation. Due to excessive pumping Pakistan’s

groundwater abstraction rates have exceeded the annual recharge rate of 55 cubic kilometers per

year. Pakistan continues to exploit groundwater resources to grow and export water-intensive crops

such as rice. Pakistan’s rice water productivity- at 0.45kg per cubic metre — is 55pc lower than the

average water productivity of 1kg per cubic metre for rice in Asian countries.

The groundwater tables are plummeting. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature in Pakistan,

the water table has fallen to below 130 feet (39.6 metres) in central Lahore. The Indus basin aquifer,

as revealed by Nasa satellite data, is the second most stressed in the world. Energy resources are

exhausted. Public health crises explode. Water scarcity takes a devastating toll, killing crops,

livelihoods, economic growth, and, slowly, the nation on the whole. No groundwater legislation exist

in the country and non-existant of any water pricing mechanism the same have to be chalk out.

3. Waste Water:

There is a need to distinguish between water availability and water accessibility which is critical. The

reason to do so is that the majority of the fresh water (both canal water and groundwater) is being

polluted by wastewater. The total quantity of wastewater produced in Pakistan is 962,335 million

gallons which ultimately finds its way to freshwater bodies and groundwater aquifers. Pakistan is

included in the list of top five countries which account for about 86 per cent of the global wastewater

fed cropland. Of these countries China, Mexico and India treat 71pc, 54pc and 22pc of their urban

wastewater, respectively, but Pakistan treats only 1.2pc of its urban wastewater. About 7.2m acres of

land are being irrigated with untreated wastewater in Pakistan. The resource in terms of wastewater

must be tapped and capacity to recycle the same has to be increased by manifold.

4. Rain Water Harvesting:

Rain water harvesting is the way through which collection and storage of rain water that runs off

from rooftop, parks, roads, open ground etc. This runoff water can be either stored or recharged into

the groundwater table. Collective efforts for rainwater harvesting, even in irrigated areas by

individual farmers at their farms, can bring a revolution in livelihood in this country, along with a

solution to the groundwater recharge for future use. There is need for legislation for treating

rainwater as national commodity and further rainwater harvesting system must be mandatory for any

house in urban center.

5. Commitment through allocation of resources through federal and provincial public

sector development funds:

The Federal Government must allocate resources for the construction of Basha dam at the earliest and

consider the development of other feasible dams on the already identified sites for which feasibility

has already undertaken (through both approaches i.e larger dams as well as small dams). The

Provincial Governments must take concrete steps in reducing conveyance water loses (as the cost is

1/5th of the dam) and also build hydraulic stricture at canal level. Further efficient irrigation

techniques for the crops in accordance with their specific requirement may be pursed.