Pakistan was ranked third after China and Brazil for its hydropower capacity by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in May 2019 because of the several hydropower upgrades that were completed in the previous year. The country also has a substantial potential for generating much more than just the nearly 9,400 megawatts it’s currently producing. Official estimates put the hydroelectricity-generation capacity of Pakistan at around 60,000 megawatts. While the forecast might appear to be beyond our reach, in reality, the same can be achieved if all the proposed hydropower projects are completed. Accordingly, let’s discuss some under-construction hydropower plants in Pakistan.
Hydropower Projects in Pakistan Currently Being Developed
As per WAPDA, Pakistan’s Water And Power Development Authority, there are five major hydro projects underway that will boost the country’s capacity to produce cheaper electricity. The under-construction hydropower plants in Pakistan include:
- Dasu Hydropower Project
- Kurram Tangi Dam
- Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project
- Mangla Power Refurbishment
- Warsak Power Station
Out of the above, the first three are new initiatives, while the remaining two are rehabilitation and expansion projects aimed at raising the current production capacity of existing dams to boost Pakistan’s overall ability to generate hydroelectricity.
Dasu Hydropower Project
The first of these developing hydropower projects in Pakistan is the Dasu Hydropower Project, being built near Dasu in the Kohistan district of KPK. The project gets its water from Dasu Dam, a gravity dam that will support the production of nearly 4,300 megawatts of electricity once the project is complete. For now, this hydropower project is in its Stage 1, which will see the production of 2,200 megawatts of hydropower. The construction for this stage began in 2017, and with a 5-year development plan, the Dasu Hydropower Project will be partially operational by 2023.
Kurram Tangi Dam
The North Waziristan District of KPK is home to the Kurram River, where the Kurram Tangi Dam project is underway. The project sits at a height of more than 300 feet, and once complete, this hydropower project will produce nearly 80 megawatts of electricity. Its Stage 1 is located near the Kaitu River and is expected to produce around 20 megawatts. Beginning in 2016, the first stage is expected to be completed by 2021. As of now, the hydropower project is nearly 40% complete.
Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project
Another hydro project in KPK is the Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project being built near Dasu but in the Lower Kohistan District. Located on a right-bank tributary of the River Indus, the project is at a distance of 310 kilometres from Islamabad. Operated by WAPDA, the project will generate 128 megawatts of electricity once it is complete and operational. While the development began in 2016, the project has faced some hindrances along the way, and WAPDA now hopes to find new bidders for the tender of this project to ensure a quick turnaround time.
Mangla Power Refurbishment
Mangla Dam is one of the most famous dams in Pakistan, along with being the second largest. This developing hydropower project in Pakistan currently produces around 1,150 megawatts of electricity. It is located in the Mirpur District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and was initially built for local irrigation purposes only. Later development expanded the project.
Phase 1 saw four units of 100 megawatts each being competed in the late 1960s, followed by three more units in 1974, and then two more units being added in 1981. Eventually, the dam reached its full capacity with the construction of two more units of 100 megawatts each in 1994, which resulted in a total of ten hydropower-generating units. Sediment deposits also resulted in reduced water capacity of the reservoir, due to which the dam itself was raised 30 feet between 2004 and 2009 to keep the water levels and capacity stable.
With regard to the current refurbishment job, WAPDA is closing down two units to upgrade them and raise the electricity generation to about 1,500 megawatts. An expected timeline is that all ten units will be upgraded by 2024 for peak performance.
Warsak Power Station
A monument to the friendship between Pakistan and Canada, the Warsak Power Station, was built in two parts. Stage 1 took a total of ten years, from 1950 to 1960, with four units generating 160 megawatts. Stage 2 began in 1975, and another ten years passed before two more units of similar capacities were added to the project. The project then had a production capacity of 240 megawatts, but over time, the production slowed down to 150 megawatts as natural wear and tear took its toll on the hydraulic equipment as well as the structure of the dam.
The rehabilitation project now aims to bring the dam up to its past standards to maximise production and reach peak capacity once more. The installation of steel anchors and refurbishment of the dam is rapidly underway to give the structure some stability. At the same time, continuous repair and upgrade of the inner machinery are also being done to ensure that Warsak Power Station is returned to its former performance and capacity.
Since the project provides electricity to Peshawar, Parachinar, Kohan, as well as Bannu, it must be returned to its full performance levels as soon as possible. This is not the first time that the dam is being restored. The first rehabilitation effort took place between 1996 and 2006, while the second one was pitched in 2013 and is still under development.
If you want to know more about the under-construction Diamer-Bhasha or Mohmand Dam, we have a separate post covering details on both projects.
These are some of the under-construction hydropower plants in Pakistan, which are already underway, with many more being proposed and awaiting development with time. We’ll update this post as more projects break ground. Stay tuned to Zameen Blog in the meantime. Reach out to us at blog@zameen.com with your queries and suggestions.
