HYDROPOWER CAPACITY
Hydropower is central to Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen energy security and increase the share of indigenous, low-cost renewable electricity in the national grid.
The country’s power-sector planning framework, reflected in the revised Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025–35, envisages additional generation capacity of between 62,660MW and 70,720MW by 2035, depending on economic-growth scenarios. It includes around 21,400MW of additional hydropower capacity.
To fully harness the benefits of renewable and low-cost hydropower, Wapda has adopted a two-pronged strategy of developing new hydropower projects while rehabilitating and upgrading existing hydel power stations. It has embarked upon the rehabilitation, refurbishment and upgrading of two ageing hydropower stations, Mangla and Warsak, while also planning the rehabilitation and modernisation of several existing small hydropower stations that have outlived their useful lives.
All these power stations are operational. The objective is to restore their original installed capacity and, where the water intake capacity of the respective stations permits, enhance their generation capacity as well. Wapda is making significant progress on the execution of the Mangla rehabilitation project while carrying out planning and technical studies for others. These rehabilitation projects are a major component of Wapda’s comprehensive plan to add low-cost hydropower generation capacity and maximise the share of hydropower in the national grid.
The two major projects involve the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Mangla and Warsak power stations, both of which have experienced a decline in generation capability primarily because of the obsolescence and ageing of plant machinery and technology.
The Mangla Power Station was established in 1967 as part of the multi-stage Mangla mega project in Mirpur District of AJK. It ultimately reached a designed generation capacity of 1,000MW, comprising 10 generating units of 100MW each. The 10 units were commissioned in phases between 1967 and 1994.
The power station has provided a significant share of baseload electricity to the national grid. It has operated largely trouble-free and has undergone several refurbishments over the years. However, the quality and reliability of its original electromechanical equipment have deteriorated with age, while the efficiency of the equipment has declined from its original design values and performance parameters.
As a result, the power station’s effective operating capacity has declined because of ageing equipment, while annual generation has averaged around 5 billion units (kWh). The improved water and energy potential made available through the Mangla Dam Raising Project, completed in 2009, has also created an opportunity to increase the installed capacity of the power station through its ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading.
Upon completion of the full project in 2030, the Mangla Power Station is expected to have a total installed capacity of 1,310MW and generate approximately 6.632 billion units (kWh) annually. This would represent an increase of about 33 per cent over the current average annual generation of around five billion units
The ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of the Mangla Hydropower Station is being undertaken at a total approved project cost of Rs52.224 billion. The foreign exchange component is being financed by international development partners. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided a $150 million grant, while the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) has extended a 90 million euro soft loan. Wapda is utilising its own resources and loans to finance the local-currency component of the project.
Implementation of the project is aimed at optimising the operation and maintenance of the power station through the major overhaul, upgrading and modernisation of its facilities in accordance with international standards of technology, safety and performance.
Although the detailed feasibility study was completed in December 2011, the project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on December 31, 2013, with physical execution commencing in 2014.
The rehabilitation project was originally scheduled to be implemented in different phases over a period of 10 years. The phased approach covered the refurbishment and upgrading of all 10 generating units, with only one water tunnel — serving two units — being taken out of operation at a time, while the remaining eight units continued operating. This methodology was adopted to minimise power-generation losses, prevent major reductions in electricity supply to the national grid and minimize disruption to water releases during the lengthy implementation period.
However, like many major hydropower projects, the Mangla rehabilitation project has faced various setbacks since its inception, resulting in considerable delays. The overall implementation schedule has been revised repeatedly amid financial, technical and administrative challenges.
In addition to civil works, the project involves a massive overhaul of the existing power plant machinery. The scope includes the supply, refurbishment, installation and replacement of major electromechanical equipment, including turbines, generators, governor and excitation systems, main power transformers, turbine inlet valves, balance-of-plant equipment, plant control and protection systems, switchyard control and protection systems and powerhouse cranes.
Upon completion of the full project in 2030 — about six years later than originally scheduled — the Mangla Power Station is expected to have a total installed capacity of 1,310MW and generate approximately 6.632 billion units (kWh) annually. This would represent an increase of about 33 per cent over the current average annual generation of around five billion units.
The rehabilitation is also expected to significantly improve the reliability and availability of the power station. The project is designed to extend the station’s operational life by approximately 40 years and contribute to the acceleration of Pakistan’s planned transition towards greater reliance on renewable and low-cost hydropower at the national level.
The writer is a retired chairman of the State Engineering Corporation.