HARIPUR: The Tarbela Dam has recorded a reduction in power generation due to the closure of 15 of its 17 power units.

Official sources told Dawn on Tuesday that Tarbela Dam was a major source of hydropower generation in the country but power production by it had dropped to 4,624 megawatts against the installed capacity of 4,888MW causing fears about an increase in the countrywide power shortfall.

They said the power generation declined mainly because of the reduced water outflow as requested by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa).

The sources said the dam recorded 5,000 cusecs of water outflow on Tuesday evening leaving only two of its 17 power generating units functional.

They said water inflow from the dam’s catchment areas was 16,700 cusecs, while water outflow totalled 5,000 cusecs and therefore, 15 power units were closed.

The sources said the two operational units generated 264 megawatts of electricity.

They said the reduced water outflow was sought by the Irsa for the desilting of canals.

The sources said the authority had reduced the supply of irrigation water from the Tarbela Dam to growers.

They said the country’s power shortfall had risen to 4,600 megawatts, including 1,138MW in the province, which required 2,916MW of electricity.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2023