The hydel power stations owned and operated by the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) have broken all records by generating the highest-ever electricity i.e. 8158 megawatt (MW) during peak hours.
This quantum of hydel power share registered an increase of about 600 MW compared to previous years. This increased share of hydel electricity in the National Grid is the result of maximum power generation from Tarbela Hydel Power Station, Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project and Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project.
As per the details Tarbela Hydel Power Station generated 3496 MW, Mangla Hydel Power Station 280 MW, Tarbela 4th Extension 1410 MW, Ghazi Barotha 1450 MW and Neelum Jhelum 978 MW while other hydel power stations cumulatively shared 544 MW to the National Grid.
It is pertinent to mention here that WAPDA owns as many as 22 hydel power stations and provides on average 31 billion units of hydel electricity annually to the National Grid. The share of hydel generation greatly contributes in lowering the overall cost of electricity for the consumers, as electricity generated through other sources is far costlier than hydel electricity.
