LAHORE: Wapda is facing financial constraints, which is also main cause of delay in mega hydropower projects.
This was discussed during a meeting, presided over by Wapda by chairman Zafar Mahmood. It was observed that dsespite abundant water resources, Pakistan could develop only 14% of storage capacity of surface water against a world average of 40%.
It was revealed during the meeting that the country has a total hydropower potential of about 100,000 MW with an identified potential of 60,000 MW. Despite possessing this enormous potential for generation of low-cost electricity, Pakistan has, so far, been able to generate just 7000 MW of hydel electricity, which is merely a fraction of total identified potential.
Financial difficulties are at the heart of non-development of hydel resources, it was observed. It was further discussed that in the wake of signing of Indus Basin Treaty in 1960, the implementation of Indus Basin Replacement works including two mega dams namely Mangla and Tarbela, five barrages, eight inter-river canals, and one siphon was carried out by Wapda with assistance of World Bank as a lead agency.
As a result of difficulties in arrangement of funds, Wapda has failed to attain financial close for ongoing 969-MW Neelum-Jhelum, 106-MW Golen Gol and other Hydropower Projects etc.
Due to narrowing down of fiscal space both locally as well as internationally, financial constraints are creating hurdles in the execution of other projects such as Diamer Basha Dam, Dasu and Bunji Hydropower Projects.
