LAHORE: With an addition of 4,543MW, the country’s installed hydel power generation will surge to 13,949MW by 2026 following completion of various under-construction hydropower projects.

“Since our installed hydel power generation will reach 13,949MW, the annual energy contribution of low-cost and green hydel electricity by Wapda to the National Grid will increase to more than 57 billion units with an increase of 20 billion units by 2026,” said outgoing Wapda chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain.

Speaking to the workers at Bakhtiar Labour Hall at a ceremony organised by the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydroelectric Workers Union on Thursday, he said Wapda had been playing a tremendous role in Pakistan’s development, being the guarantor of water, food and energy security of the country.

“For implementing several projects, I wouldn’t forget the services of workers,” he acknowledged and thanked the union for inviting him to Labour Hall and providing him an opportunity to interact with the workers.

Earlier, Union General Secretary Khursheed Ahmed appreciated the Wapda chairman for his services in regaining the organisation’s glory.

Meanwhile, the workers union in a press release quoted the Wapda chairman as having said that Wapda was providing cheaper hydel electricity at the rate of Rs3 to 4 per unit whereas independent thermal private power houses had been charging Rs18 to 20 per unit.

“Wapda is building 10 new hydel and dam projects including Bhasha, Mohmand and Dasu to provide cheaper source of electricity and meet need of water.”

Wapda has also a plan to develop a housing society for the staff from BS-1 to 16.

CHARGE: The Wapda chairman will relinquish the charge and hand it over to Naveed Asghar (member finance).

“In the next couple of days, the Wapda chairman will take Mr Asghar with him to visit various ongoing projects. Mr Asghar will take over by Tuesday,” an official source told Dawn on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2022