The Energy Sector

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

WAPDA awards contract for Dasu power project

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Monday awarded contract to a joint venture, Dasu Hydropower Consultants, for preparation of a detailed engineering design and construction supervision of 4,320-megawatt Dasu hydropower project.

The joint venture comprises two foreign and three local consulting companies including Nippon Koei of Japan, Dolsar Engineering of Turkey, Development and Management Consultants, National Development Consultants and Pakistan Engineering Services from Pakistan, Wapda sources said.

Dasu hydropower project is a low-cost energy plant that will contribute 21.3 billion units of electricity to the national grid. Benefits of the project have been estimated at about Rs191.7 billion annually.

[khalid-don]

another engineering detail design would take couple more years, dunno when they will start working on this

[khalid-don]

PM vows to speed up power

ISLAMABAD: Responding to opposition doubts about whether his government can overcome festering power shortages, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured the National Assembly on Friday of fast implementation of projects and said the foundation-stone of Pakistan’s biggest hydro-electric power project, Diamer-Bhasha dam on the Indus, would be laid on Oct 18.

The government says its remedial measures had eased off the latest power crisis with an increase in generation to 13,500 megawatts by Thursday from the dropped level of 9,000MW, which had intensified outages and sparked violent protests this week, mainly in Punjab.

But on the fourth day of a lower house debate on electricity loadshedding that was extended to Monday, opposition lawmakers continued to voice doubt about the PPP-led coalition government’s assurances of sincerity in tackling the problem, which it says it has inherited from lack of attention to the power sector by previous governments of its opponents.

However, the prime minister, whose brief intervention came after a member of the government-allied PML-Q, Amir Muqam, complained about the reported stoppage of work on an under-construction tunnel through Lowari Pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said his government was expeditiously pursuing all power projects, whether it be Diamir-Bhasha dam, Thar coal project in Sindh, or the under-construction Neelum-Jhelum project and raising the level of Mangla Dam in Azad Kashmir.“We are working on all of them, and there will be so many projects during this period (of the PPP government) as had never been before and will not be (in the future),” he said rather rhetorically.

Mr Gilani said his government had tried not to make Diamir-Bhasha dam controversial like the shelved Kalabagh dam, by taking the project, estimated to cost $12 billion and generate 4,500MW of electricity, to the inter-provincial Council of Common Interests for approval and now its foundation-stone would be laid on Oct 18.

The dam’s generation capacity will surpass the country’s present highest of over 3,400MW from Tarbela Dam.

About the Lowari tunnel, where Mr Muqam said contractors had stopped work for non-payment of funds after an expenditure of Rs8 billion, the prime minister said he had already met the communications minister twice about the matter and that the required Rs2 billion would soon be released for the project, which is designed to ensure an all-weather road link to remote Chitrat district, which is often cut off from the country by snowfall in winter.

Earlier during the debate, Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar invited house members from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) for a meeting to discuss the problem of non-payment of electricity bills by consumers in the region.

PPP lawmaker Yasmeen Rahman, who is also an active member of the house Public Accounts Committee, cited a strange argument of unspecified Fata consumers for non-payment of power bills that electricity had been “forced” on them at some time in the past when they did not want it.

However, a Fata lawmaker and former minister, Hameedullah Jan Afridi, complained of non-payment of any royalty to Fata for power projects located in the area and said Fata residents were paying some levies imposed by the local political administration as power charges.

But Mr Qamar said any levy for electricity other than bills issued by Wapda would be illegal and asked the Fata lawmakers to sit with him to resolve the matter, to which Mr Afridi agreed after some words of protest over why it had not been done before.

PML-N member and a former Balochistan governor, Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, said he was happy to know about increased power generation but wondered why it could not be done before. His party colleague from Rawalpindi, Shakeel Ahmed Awan, wanted an accountability of losses suffered and flight of capital to other countries because of power cuts over the past three and half years of the present government.

Yasmeen Rahman took the PML-N to task for policies of its government in the 1990s which she said had disallowed 16 private power companies to complete their projects earlier allowed by a PPP government headed by then prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/08/pm-vo...-projects.html

[khalid-don]

ARTICLE: Energising Pakistan
The Nation (Pakistan)
October 6, 2011

Today, Pakistan is crumbling due to the energy crisis. The present government used to blame the last government. But after the current marriage of convenience between the two, this strategy is a sham and they are both equally to blame.

When industry and agriculture alike cannot function at optimum, the jobs get affected other than every single social and economic indicator. Parallel to that homes and peace of mind suffer. Whether the energy crisis statistics are loss of 400,000 jobs yearly or a cut of Rs5 billion of exports yearly, for me the biggest statistic is the riots in the cities and villages of Pakistan, which demonstrate that people are suffering beyond reasonable proportions. The crisis is due to the government not wanting to finish up kosher hydropower projects and preferring rental hydro projects to make a quick buck.

The power policy of 2002 was supposed to give Pakistan 22,555MW of hydropower in a phased timeframe. According to experts, the short-term plan was 15 different run-of-the-river hydropower projects, having a total capacity of 1,358MW that were scheduled to be completed in June 2007, besides three projects, including Neelum-Jhelum, AJK Chakothi, and Kohala on Jhelum River, having gross installed capacity of 1,848MW that were scheduled to be commissioned in June 2010. Unfortunately, these projects were not completed within the stipulated time due to vested interests in wanting to push rentals where commission was the attraction for the current set of looters.

The "go-slow" strategy has widened the gap between power supply and demand. Had these projects been implemented, we would have had 3,206MW of cheap hydroelectricity, which would have averted the riots and the socioeconomic decline. It is incredible that only one small project of Malakand-III (NWPF now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) generating 86MW power could be completed after eight years, against the target of 3,226MW fixed in 2002. This means that only two percent of the total target was achieved.

Even the small dam initiative of the looters is a scam. After spending Rs31 billion only 7MW of energy and 0.3MAF storage of water would be gained. The warped argument being given by the looters is that hydropower projects take too much time to be executed. Planning for short-, medium- and long-term is something unknown to them.

When world examples are analysed, this argument falls flat since many important projects were completed in record time. During World War II, the United States was facing a serious energy crisis. The then President put on high priority the implementation of the Douglas Dam in Tennessee to generate electricity for national defence purposes. The construction work began in February 1942 and the project was completed within just 12 months and 17 days. The dam not only had storage capacity of one MAF of water, but also capability to generate 166MW hydroelectricity. Similarly, the American engineers set another example by completing the Cabinet Gorge Dam on Clark Fork River in just one and a half years in Idaho having a storage capacity of 106,000 acre feet and generating capability of 231MW hydroelectricity.

Next door to us knowing the fact that hydroelectricity incurred no fuel cost, minimal operating cost and durability of hydropower plants, the Indian policymakers are vigorously pursuing to add clean and renewable 50,000MW of hydropower to their energy mix. Pursuing this national mission, the Indians have set some records in completing hydroelectric projects in record time. The multipurpose 520MW Omkareshwar Project on Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh was completed in a record time. Instead of six years, the project was completed in four and a half years.

Another 20MW Kabini Hydropower Project was completed in just 20 months on Kabini River, in spite of facing the worst unforeseen geological challenges and monsoon woes. Another, 13MW hydropower project on Tawa River, a tributary of Narmada River, was completed in a record time of 22 months against the estimated time of 40 months at less than 15 percent cost against the allocation. The project, which excelled in the history of hydropower project management, is the hydroelectric power project in Himachal Pradesh. It is unique, as it was built within 30 months as against the schedule of five years at almost 50 percent less than the approved budgeted cost at much high altitudes and amidst difficult mountainous terrain.

As a contrast to this, Pakistan has wasted time. When it is clear that some projects are technically no-goes nationally, they are still being harped on. All those hydro projects, which are technically acceptable to all of Pakistan need to be hurried along. The go-slow policy on run-of-the-river 4,325MW has cost Pakistan its life. Water management and canal lining projects, which create breathing space in terms of water savings, have been ignored. The National Programme of Improvement of Watercourses is a saviour project that could have changed Pakistans destiny. But these looters wanted to loot not save Pakistan.

All this coupled with corruption in the irrigation and drainage sectors have cost people their lives. Millions have been displaced in the floods. Indeed, this water could have been saved in small dams had the planning been implemented versus purposely delayed. The funds for drainage and irrigation infrastructure maintenance were used for loot and plunder, and this has pushed Pakistans rural economy back 50 years in many places.

The sad truth is that even though the people of Pakistan know that their natural resources are being looted, they are not lynching the looters. If I knew that the government was delaying non-controversial hydro projects for the sake of their commissions, why would I support them? That would be a crime in itself. To support those who have stolen from Pakistan is in itself criminal. Therefore, the blame for Pakistans current water and energy security crisis is to be shared by those who are looting and those voters who will support them in the future. Water and electricity is life. The looters are denying Pakistan life. Indeed, it is a crime.

Copyright 2011 Nawaiwaqt Group of News PapersAll Rights Reserved
The Nation (Pakistan)


http://www.hydroworld.com/index/disp...515429821.html

[khalid-don]

above article nicely summed up the current energy problem in Pakistan. Sorry for being little political here. Previous governament as well as current governament are responsible for this failure and I consider the voters criminal too per above article

Forget PPP, PML - Q and Mr. Musharaf; to my surprise the so called Khatmen Pakistan Janbi PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Peer shab also don't have any energy plan. Unbelievable they are playing with our lives.

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

‘UAE’s 320MW plant to start generation next year’

Federal Minister for Water and Power, Naveed Qamar on Friday said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gifted power plant of 320 Megawatts (MW) to Pakistan would start generation next year.

While talking to UAE Ambassador, Essa Abdullah who called on him, the minister said the plant is being installed at Faisalabad and the generation from this plant will help to stable the electricity in the industrial sector of the city.

Pakistan in energy deficit country and looking for UAE investment in this sector, he said, adding Pakistan and UAE are all weather friends and have brotherly relations from decades.

UAE has always helped Pakistan and its people in difficult times. It provided employment and funded projects in health, communication, education, sanitation and other sectors.

Naveed also welcomed and thanked the allocation of $6 million this year by UAE under Pakistan Fund. He said the government and people of Pakistan would always remember services of Shaikh Zaid bin Sultan for Pakistan.

The minister also extended his gratitude for providing assistance for last year flood affected people and this year for the affectees of Sindh province.

The UAE Ambassador on the occasion said that UAE would continue its support for Pakistan for development and welfare of the people. He informed the minister that 46 different projects in water, sewerage and sanitation have been funded by the UAE and 26 of them have been completed.

He also briefed the minister on their assistance for the flood affectees of Sindh province. UAE will extend more assistance for provision of basic facilities in the troubled and other areas of Pakistan.

[IceMan2010]

Good news about the Diamer-Bhasha dam, BUT doesnt $12 Billion sound like way too much money for 4,500MW???

Wouldnt it be better if they spent around half this money on generating electricity using wind and solar power?

[khalid-don]

Basha Dam:
Beside electricity, extra storage of water would provide irrigation and drinking facilities to Pakistani people. I also heard that it would extend life of Tarbel Dam and would control flood on Indus river. And then maintenance cost is low. Economic benifts are quite high compareed to Wind power. Since it take longer period of time to construct a Dam it is important to start hydro project right away. For Short term benifts wind power and solar energy should be prefererd.

Also I heard for Basha Dam construction Govt. has already provided compensation of Rs. 42 billion to effected people.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=115080

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

Gilani to open Mangla Dam raising project

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed disclosed here late Monday that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will inaugurate Rs101 billion Mangla Dam raising project in Mirpur Azad Jammu & Kashmir placing a grand milestone of the speedy economic progress and prosperity of Pakistan including AJK especially to permanently combat the problem of loadshedding of power in the country.

“The Prime Minister of Pakistan will be accorded a historical rousing reception on his arrival in Mirpur in the near future where he will also inaugurate AJK’s largest Dhan Galli bridge over Jhelum river on Dadayal-Rawalpindi Road in Mirpur district”, Ch Majeed announced while addressing a hurriedly-called press conference at the PWD Rest House.

[Nouman_26]

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has successfully completed the 969 megawatts (MW) Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) dam diversion tunnel in record time.

The half-a-kilometer long tunnel has been completed in two years at a cost of Rs492 million to divert the River Neelum. As of Tuesday, 25% water of the River Neelum is flowing through the tunnel, while the whole river will be diverted after four days. Subsequently, construction of the main dam will commence.

After the completion of the dam, a power unit of 50 MW will be installed in the dam diversion tunnel. This 50 MW generation will be in addition to the designed 969 MW capacity of the project.

Overall completion of the project is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The project will contributed about 5.15 billion units of electricity annually to the National Grid. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs30 billion.


Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/271937/n...nel-completed/

[khalid-don]

Originally Posted by Ahmad Rashid Ahmad

Gilani to open Mangla Dam raising project

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed disclosed here late Monday that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will inaugurate Rs101 billion Mangla Dam raising project in Mirpur Azad Jammu & Kashmir placing a grand milestone of the speedy economic progress and prosperity of Pakistan including AJK especially to permanently combat the problem of loadshedding of power in the country.

“The Prime Minister of Pakistan will be accorded a historical rousing reception on his arrival in Mirpur in the near future where he will also inaugurate AJK’s largest Dhan Galli bridge over Jhelum river on Dadayal-Rawalpindi Road in Mirpur district”, Ch Majeed announced while addressing a hurriedly-called press conference at the PWD Rest House.

finally some progress. I believe this one was completed back in 2009. Mangla raising project will increase electricity generation by 120 MW

http://www.pepco.gov.pk/pdfs/Manglaraisingdata.pdf

[khalid-don]

Wapda gears up work on hydropower projects

Published: October 01, 2011
LAHORE – In view of increasing electricity demand in the country, Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda) has geared up its efforts for optimum utilisation of hydropower potential by initiating a number of projects. These projects will not only help bridge the gap between electricity generation and its consumption but also improve the ratio of low-cost hydel electricity in the system to stabilise the tariff.
This was stated by Wapda Chairman Shakil Durrani during his visit to the under construction Golen Gol Hydropower Project. Wapda Secretary, GM (North), GM (Hydel) Operation and Project Director accompanied him during the visit.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that 106-MW Golen Gol Hydropower Project is a part of the least-cost energy generation plan being executed by Wapda on priority. He said that contractors M/s SAMBU, Korean have been mobilised to the site and the project is scheduled to be completed in four years. He expressed the hope that the project will significantly contribute towards socio-economic uplift of the country in general and Chitral in particular. He said that the locals will be preferred for lower jobs during implementation of the project. He also directed the project authorities to study the possibility of providing irrigation water to the suburban areas of the project for cultivation.
Chairman said that hydropower projects of about 1400 MW are under construction. The 72-MW Khan Khwar project has been completed, while three other projects of 350 MW will be completed in 2012, he added. Chairman further said that Wapda has awarded 13 contracts of Diamer Bhasha Dam project for construction of offices, colonies and road infrastructure in the dam area. Wapda GM (North) Rashid Ali Khan Bangash and the Consultants’ Project Manager Dr Herald Samson briefed about the progress so far on the project.
Earlier, the Chairman inaugurated Wapda Staff Colony for Golen Gol Hydropower project in Koghuzi, Chitral.
It is pertinent to mention that Golen Gol Hydropower project is located on the River Golen Gol, a major tributary of the River Mastuj in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Saudi Development Fund, Kuwait Development Fund and the Opec Fund are providing $107 million for the project.
On its completion, Golen Gol Hydropower project will generate about 436 million units (Gwh) of electricity annually to earn revenue of about Rs 1 billion. Being an environment friendly hydropower project, it will help reduce dependence on expensive thermal power, thereby saving foreign exchange amounting to $34 million (equivalent to Rs 3 billion) to the country. Accordingly to estimation, Golen Gol hydropower project will add about Rs 9 billion per annum to the national economy through socio-economic uplift in the country caused by the project.
Later, Wapda Chairman had an interaction with the district administration and the local notables. The District Coordination Officer discussed the matters related to the electricity. The Chairman said that Pepco and NTDC will be asked for upgradation of the transmission line across Lowari Tunnel.
He said that Wapda will also add another
650 KW to the existing Chitral Hydel Power Station.

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-n...power-projects

[khalid-don]

ADB to fund $97m hydel power plantBy Amin Ahmed | From the Newspaper(20 hours ago)

TodayThe project is a logical continuation of the initiatives of ADB operations in Pakistan’s power sector development and reform that is designed to promote an adequate and well-regulated, market-oriented power sector. - File photo
ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank announced on Tuesday to extend a loan of $97 million to help fund a new private sector hydroelectricity plant which will go into operation in 2016 to help Pakistan ease power shortages.

The project marks the first investment in the country’s power sector by a consortium of companies from South Korea.

The loan is being provided to Star Hydro Power which is jointly owned by Korea Water Resources Corporation, along with Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company and Sambu Construction Company.

The approval of loan by ADB Board of Directors in Manila for the 147MW run-of-the-river Patrind hydropower plant, between the Kunhar and Jhelum rivers near Muzaffarabad, will help mitigate power shortages and diversify country’s energy mix.

Apart from generating 147MW of electricity, the project will have socio-economic impacts on the local level which include creation of employment opportunities, stimulate local economy, reduce population emigration and help find work for local unskilled workers.
“Shops and factories across Pakistan are having to scale back operations because of electricity shortages,” said Takeo Koike, Principal Investment Specialist of ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department.

“This new, renewable energy generating plant will power businesses and light homes across the country,” he said.

Pakistan has an acute shortage of power, estimated at over 4,200MW during peak demand, which has led to worsening brownouts and blackouts across the country, necessitating power rationing.

Most of the country’s energy is generated from imported oil, putting a severe strain on the country’s finances as global oil prices rise and the local currency depreciates.

The project – an independent power producer – which will revert to government ownership after 30 years – is expected to create 2,700 local jobs and generate over $240 million from purchases of local goods and services. It will also avoid about 280,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

ADB support for the project is in line with the Country Partnership Strategy for Pakistan during 2009-13 which particularly emphasises the importance of energy sector development, particularly clean energy, private sector participation in infrastructure development, and expansion of ADB private sector operations in the hydroelectric sector.

The project is a logical continuation of the initiatives of ADB operations in Pakistan’s power sector development and reform that is designed to promote an adequate and well-regulated, market-oriented power sector.

The Patrind power project is consistent with ADB ‘Strategy 2020’ which emphasises investment in infrastructure to achieve high sustainable economic progress, connect the poor to the markets, and increase their access to basic productive assets, as part of ADB’s support for achieving inclusive growth.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/12/adb-t...wer-plant.html

[khalid-don]

Originally Posted by Nouman_26

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has successfully completed the 969 megawatts (MW) Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) dam diversion tunnel in record time.

The half-a-kilometer long tunnel has been completed in two years at a cost of Rs492 million to divert the River Neelum. As of Tuesday, 25% water of the River Neelum is flowing through the tunnel, while the whole river will be diverted after four days. Subsequently, construction of the main dam will commence.

After the completion of the dam, a power unit of 50 MW will be installed in the dam diversion tunnel. This 50 MW generation will be in addition to the designed 969 MW capacity of the project.

Overall completion of the project is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The project will contributed about 5.15 billion units of electricity annually to the National Grid. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs30 billion.


Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/271937/n...nel-completed/

Good progress but it will take another 6 years to complete. If India builds Kishanganga then electricity generation will be further reduced by 100 MW

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

Gilani inaugurates completion of Mangla Dam raising; bridge at Dhani Gali

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday inaugurated the Rs 100 billion Mangla Dam raising project aimed at significantly increasing country’s water storage and electricity generation.

Prime Minister Gilani also inaugurated the Dhani Gali bridge on River Jhelum, linking the Punjab with AJK and replace the old narrow suspension bridge.The dam after the upraising would have 2.88 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of additional water storage and 644 Gwh of additional hydel generation, with an estimated annual benefit of Rs 18 billion.

Prime Minister Gilani termed the project vital for national economic development and said it would go a long way in the progress and development of the country.

He said in the past 35 years no such project for storage of water was implemented and said the upraising of dam would increase storage capacity and power generation significantly.

PM Gilani lauded the government and private sector that helped completion of the project and said being an agricultural country, it was vital to increase the cultivated land to ensure food security.

He said it was also important to ensure better utilization of agricultural water through brick-lining of watercourses and called for utilization of drip irrigation and sprinklers to maximize usage of limited water for greater benefit.

He said the government would soon inaugurate the Diamir Bhasha Dam which would store 6 million MAF water and produce 4500 mega watts of electricity. Prime Minister Gilani said the government has embarked upon a new vision of initiating water storage projects on smaller watercourses and rivers to ensure provision of irrigation water in far-flung areas.

The Prime Minister also thanked China for completion of the upraising project and termed it a contribution towards greener Pakistan. He particularly mentioned the officials of China International Water and Power Electric Company for completion of the project.

He also announced a month’s salary for the WAPDA employees associated with the Mangla Dam Upraising Project.

He also lauded the political leadership of Azad Jammu Kashmir government for standing united and working together for the development. He particularly mentioned that the past and present leadership of AJK was sitting together at the stage that spoke volumes of the commitment of the leadership to serve the masses.

Gilani said consistency in policies was critical for the development of the country. He said the government had the will to confront all challenges and had proven by its deeds that they were sincere in serving the masses.

He said he could challenge that the pace of development during the present government out-paces any progress made by any other government in the past.

The Prime Minister said he had directed that the projects that have been completed up to 60 per cent, under the PSDP, be completed on priority basis.
He regretted that certain sections were in the habit of making tall claims, but there was nothing to prove it on the ground.

Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said Pakistan Peoples Party had always strived to provide the masses all facilities at their doorsteps and mentioned that the party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had the honour of initiating the Mangla Dam Project.

He regretted that the previous governments ignored the aspect of power generation that has led to the current situation where the demand has exceeded the generation capacity.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Watoo said the Governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir worked hard to materialize the project of national importance.

He said the upraising of Mangla Dam would ensure power generation and water for irrigation.

[khalid-don]

Is it 644 GW electricity in addition to 1000 MW produced earlier?

[Arsalan Rashid]

644 GW ?? and 1 GW = 1000 MW..
Correct me if im wrong

[abidi2009]

yup

[Arsalan Rashid]

Originally Posted by abidi2009

yup

and 644 GW = 644000 MW
when is the expected completion of this dam ?

[owais.usmani]

You guys are confusing it. 1000 MW is the power output of the dam, while 66 giga-watt hour would be the additional energy output.

read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watt#Co...watts_per_hour