Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) hydel power stations delivered 33,658 million units of low-cost environment-friendly hydel electricity to the national grid in 2016 registering an increase of 5.7 per cent as compared to 2015.
The official sources said that some 31,840 million units were generated during the year 2015 and 33,658 units were delivered to the national grid system in 2016. They said the additional contribution of hydel electricity to the national grid not only helped minimize loadshedding in the country but also lower power tariff. The main contributing factors behind this hydel generation included water releases from the reservoirs on the indent of IRSA and effective operation and consistent maintenance of the hydel power stations by WAPDA.
It is worth mentioning that hydropower is the cheapest, cleanest and environment-friendly source of electricity, which plays a significant role to stabilise electricity tariff in the country. According to the data of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) regarding per unit cost of electricity generated from various sources during fiscal year 2015-16, it is Rs 2.15 for hydel, which is far less than per unit cost of electricity generated from all other sources. In comparison to hydel electricity, it is Rs 9.07 per unit for gas, Rs.11.05 for residual furnace oil (RFO), Rs 17.96 for high speed diesel (HSD), Rs 12.08 for coal, Rs 6.86 for nuclear, Rs 16.63 for wind, Rs 11.95 for bagasse, Rs 16.95 for solar, Rs 11.27 for regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) and Rs 10.55 per unit for electricity imported from Iran.
At present, WAPDA owns 19 hydel power stations with cumulative generation capacity of 6,902 megawatt (MW), which is about one third of the total installed capacity in Pakistan. Hydroelectric plants, the world over, have average life span of 30 to 35 years, but WAPDA still successfully operates its hydel power stations, majority of which are far older than their average life. Despite aging factor, WAPDA hydel power stations are still capable to be run at their maximum generation capacities.