Bureau Report
PESHAWAR: Naturally blessed with enormous hydropower resources, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a unique province where 30,000 Megawatt (MW) of hydropower potential has been identified that could easily meet the energy demands of domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors besides making Pakistan energy surplus. Out of 30,000 MW hydropower potential identified by the KP Energy Department, only 6,000 MW (33,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) having generation cost of Rs63 billion) has been generated so far and approximately 10,000 MW is in different stages of implementation with potential to generate about Rs100 billion revenue annually whereas 14,000 MW still remain untapped due to which the country is facing problem of load-shedding.
Muhammad Zubair Khan, Secretary Energy and Power KP told,” Currently the province contributes about 2,800MW to national grid, adding the energy demand of the province stands at 1,800MW and we are currently facing a shortfall of 500 MW.” He says if the due share of 1000 MW is provided to KP the load-shedding issue could be addressed as well as the province would become self-sufficient in meeting the domestic, agricultural and industrial demands. The Secretary said unfortunately KP could not realize its full economic and industrial potential, which should be estimated 16pc as compared to other province, mainly due to its geographic location, adding KP Government was determined to offset this locational disadvantage by expeditious development of energy resources and providing inexpensive electricity and gas to industrial sector to keep the economic and industrial wheel moving fast.
To revive the economy, increase revenue generation and create employment opportunities, he said the KP Government had undertaken key initiatives including institutional and policy reforms, safeguarding provincial rights, ensuring commercial and financial stability, mainstreaming of merged areas and development of oil and gas sector in last two years in the province, yielding positive results. “We have introduced first-ever successful Auction and Wheeling of Power Model for 18MW Pehur hydroelectric station on June 5, 2020 to supply cheap electricity at strike price rate of Rs7.5 per kwh to five industrial consumers to offset the locational disadvantage faced by industrial sector of KP,” he said.
“This model would help contribute about Rs305.38 million per annum to provincial kitty, which is Rs146.57 million per annum more than sale of electricity to national grid,” he informed. Following successful launch of Phase-I of the Wheeling Model, he said KP Government had initiated Phase-II, which entails supply of 148MW from Machai, Malakand-III, Ranolia, Daral Khwar, Karora and Jabori hydropower projects (HPPs) to industrial consumers of the province, “Till date, over 66 industries have applied for this facility in phase-II,” he said.
