By Monitoring Desk
The monsoon rains that otherwise played havoc with the agriculture and human lives across South Asia this year, have helped Pakistan boost its hydel power generation to the level of 8757 megawatts, first time in the history of the energy-starved country.
Previously, the record of hydel power generation was 8474 MW delivered to the system on September 11, last year.
According to Water and Power Development Authority, the record generation of hydel electricity is the result of higher reservoir level at Tarbela and Mangla dams, increased water outflows as per indent by Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and effective operation of WAPDA hydel power stations.
The statistics of the record hydel generation during the peak hours show that Tarbela Hydel Power Station generated 3331 MW, Tarbela 4th Extension 1410 MW, Ghazi Barotha 1450 MW, Mangla Hydel Power Station 915 MW and Neelum Jhelum 870 MW while other hydel power stations cumulatively shared 781 MW to the National Grid.
The installed capacity of WAPDA hydel power stations has risen to 9389 MW with phased completion of its three mega hydropower projects namely the 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum, the 1410 MW-Tarbela 4th Extension, and the 108 MW-Golen Gol.
At present, WAPDA owns and operates 22 hydel power stations, including Neelum Jhelum. WAPDA is well on its way and work on three mega projects including Diamer Basha Dam, Dasu Hydropower Project and Mohmand Dam is under way, adding 9500 MW on their commissioning.
