August 12, 2023 (MLN): Electricity generation by WAPDA hydel power stations surged beyond the 8000 MegaWatt (MW) mark, crossing new frontiers with an 8158 MW contribution to the national grid during last night's peak hours following the recent revival of the 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project.
Effective operation and maintenance of WAPDA hydel power stations and better hydrological conditions are the other contributing factors behind this increase in WAPDA hydel generation.
Statistics show that Tarbela Hydel Power Station generated 3478 MW, Tarbela 4th Extension 1410 MW, Ghazi Barotha 1450 MW, Neleum Jhelum 798 MW, Mangla 305 MW, While all other hydel power stations of WAPDA contributed 717 MW cumulatively.
Neelum Jhelum is a run-of-the-river hydropower project, that started electricity generation in April 2018.
It envisages the diversion of the Neelum River through a system of tunnels having outfall into the Jhelum River.
Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project has been constructed in a very difficult mountainous terrain, while 90% of the project is underground.
The project consists of a dam, a 51.7 km long underground waterway system comprising of 48.2 km headrace tunnel and a 3.5 km tailrace tunnel, an underground powerhouse and a switch yard.
The project has an installed generation capacity of 969 MW with four generating units of 242.25 MW each.
The cost of WAPDA hydel generation stands at Rs.3.51 per unit, which is the cheapest if compared with other sources of electricity generation in the country.
Therefore, it has a significant impact on lowering the overall tariff.
At present, WAPDA owns and operates 22 hydel power stations with a cumulative installed capacity of 9459 MW.
WAPDA is vigorously implementing a least-cost energy generation plan to enhance the share of hydel electricity in the National Grid.
It is worth noting that a number of mega projects are being constructed in the hydropower sector scheduled to be completed from 2024 to 2028-29 in a phased manner.
These projects will double the country's installed generation capacity by adding about 10,000 MW of clean, green, and low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid.
Copyright Mettis Link News
Posted on: 2023-08-12T23:42:37+05:00
