WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

Table 2
Installed micro hydro plants up to 150 kW in Pakistan
Region
Plants installed
(Number)
Installed capacity
(kW)
Households
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA 470 6 790.5 59 437
Gilgit Baltistan 22 401.5 4 010
Balochistan 3 80.0 800
Azad Jammu and Kashmir 43 592.0 3 915
Total 538 7 864.0 68 162
Source: Farooq 7
Note: FATA – Federally administered tribal areas
Table 3
Small hydropower potential in Pakistan
Province
Capacity
(MW)
Completed feasibility study
Number
(n)
Capacity
(MW)
Number
(n)
Raw sites
Capacity
(MW)
Gilgit Baltistan 764 - 71.50 136 814.15
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 564 - 143.00 78 426.41
Azad Jammu & Kashmir 337 9 78.10 24 177.00
Punjab 409 6 131.28 306 349.00
Sindh 191 5 69.05 3 48.55
Balochistan .. .. .. .. ..
Total potential 2 665 20 492.93 547 1815.11
Northern Pakistan boasts about an estimated
potential of 300 MW for micro hydropower projects. 8
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has
provided electricity to Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral, a
district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In fact, 50 per cent of
Chitral’s population receives electricity from over 180
micro hydropower plants now being managed by the
local communities. 9 The ADB has co-financed the
Malakand Rural Development Project in the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province to build 76 micro hydropower
schemes ranging 5-50 kW of capacity in the Malakand
division. 10
According to WAPDA, Pakistan is endowed with a total
small hydropower potential of 2,265 MW. Table 3
below shows its geographical division.
Balochistan is a mineral rich province boasting iron
and hydrocarbon resources. There is no potential for
small hydropower development due to unavailability
of required head to generate electricity; however, the
National Water Resources Development Programme
has included eight sites for irrigation facility.
SHP installed
capacity (up to 50
MW)
SHP potential (up
to 50 MW)
281 MW
2265 MW
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Pakistan
Note: Data on installed capacity and potential for
small hydropower up to 10 MW is not available.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997
mandates the provision of environmental assessment
for approval of development projects, including small
hydropower. An Environmental Impact Assessment is
compulsory. 11
Renewable energy Policy
The Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is
the focal centre for preparing policy for promotion of
alternative renewable energy in Pakistan. The policy
takes four key aspects into consideration which
include energy security, economic benefits, social
equity and environmental protection as policy
objectives with an evolutionary nature. 12 In 2006, the
Government of Pakistan approved Policy for
Development of Renewable Energy for Power
Generation (short phase/introduction of the first
phase) prepared by AEDB which includes
development of the following renewable resources:
Small hydropower;
Solar photovoltaic and thermal energy for power
generation;
Wind power generation.
The second phase of the policy introduced the ARE
Policy 2011 and recognized three categories: 13
Alternative fuels (biogas, bio-fuel, hydrogen and
fuel from waste);
Renewable energy (geothermal, small hydro,
marine, solar, wind, energy from waste);
Fossil Fuel Hybrids Systems (at least 70 per cent
renewable sources)
The third phase or maturity phase for competitive
growth would commence 2015 onwards. 14 Moreover,
265