The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) generated 31.45 billion units of hydel electricity during the fiscal year 2010-11, registering an increase of 3.84 billion units as compared to 2009-10. The increase was a result of efficient operation and management of hydropower stations and availability of more water in the reservoirs.
The additional contribution of low-cost hydel electricity by the WAPDA to the national grid saved around Rs. 41.64 billion to the national exchequer, which otherwise would have been incurred on generating the equivalent quantum of electricity from thermal resources. According to WAPDA statistics, Tarbela, the largest hydel power station in the country, generated 15.833 billion units during 2010-11 compared to 13.833 billion units last year.
Similarly, Ghazi Bartoha, the second in line, produced 7.356 billion units against 6.715 billion units, Mangla, the third in row, produced 5.953 billion units against 4.638 billion units, and Warsak and other small hydel power stations shared 2.308 billion units in 2010-11 against 2.425 billion units in 2009-10. The installed capacity of hydel power generation in the country stands at about 6,500 megawatt- one-third of the total installed capacity.
The WAPDA is executing a least-cost energy generation plan on priority basis to improve the ratio of hydel electricity in the National Grid. It will add 1,500MW to the current capacity through its under construction projects. Besides, the WAPDA is also executing a number of mega hydropower projects with a cumulative capacity of more than 20,000MW including 4,500-MW Diamer Basha Dam, 1350-MW Tarbela 4th Extension, 7,100-MW Bunji, 4,320-MW Dasu and 740-MW Munda hydropower project.