Bhasha Dam: people's Government strategy to light up Pakistan

The energy history of Pakistan reveals that, barring a couple of exceptions, no government has served this sector well. But the Pakistan Peoples Party governments were guaranteed light up Pakistan. Energy has always been a top priority of the Pakistan Peoples Party. Energy has always been a top priority of the Pakistan Peoples Party. It is part of the Party's 2008 election manifesto, counted amongst its top five priorities.
For the very first, and sadly, the very last time in its history, Pakistan managed to produce 3000 MW surplus electricity through successful implementation of its 1994 Power Policy chalked out by the then People's Government. By 1994, Pakistan was facing annual load shedding of about 2,400MW which translated into 14 hours of load shedding. Then Peoples Government of 1993-1996 signed agreements with almost half a dozen private power generation companies enabling the country in just three years' time to produce 3000MW surplus electricity from the perils of 2,400MW shortfall in 1994. There was no load shedding in the country during the decade of 1995-2005. The then PPP Government inducted over 5000MW of private power generation, ending shutdowns.
The PPP also obtained a 500 MW nuclear power station at Chashma. The last power station established in the public sector was the PPP's Ghazi Barotha 1,450MW hydro-electric power project, which went online in 2004. On 04-03-1997, World Bank advised Pakistan to sell its surplus electricity (approx. 3000MW) to India.
The short-sightedness of governments over the last three decades has had a detrimental impact on the energy sector. The country plunged into an energy crisis by the year 2007 due to rising electricity demand which entered into double digit figure following increasing sale of electrical and electronic appliances on lease finance.
In February 1997, immediately after forming its Government at the Center, PML-N decided to scrap the 1994 Power Policy citing high tariffs charged by the IPPs. Against all national and international laws, the PML-N Government urged the IPPs to reduce tariffs, arrested 3 foreign-qualified technical experts of Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), harassed the management of IPPs; thus, shutting the doors of foreign investment in the country. Three weeks later, on 26-4-1997, WAPDA, on the directives of the then Nawaz Government, forced CEPA-Silpform to suspend construction work on 660MW coal fired power plant at Keti Bunder. A Hong Kong-based company was to develop a port at Keti Bunder industrial zone besides developing coal mining at Thar.
The then Nawaz Government handed the severest blow to Pakistan's economy on 18-4-1998 by promulgating "Ordinance Against Corrupt Practices in Energy sector". This Ordinance was promulgated in haste just two days before Senate and National Assembly were to begin their sessions. The Ordinance provided seven years' imprisonment to those - including foreign nationals - who were found guilty by Saif-ur-Rehaman's Ehtisab Bureau. Not even a single person was ever convicted during the court proceedings under this Ordinance, but the country suffered a financial loss worth tens of billions of dollars on account of foreign investment coupled with the acute power shortage that the nation was to face in the coming years.
The Government has announced a Vision Statement for the power sector which envisages addition of 20,000MW by 2020. President Asif Ali Zardari has asked for an early adoption and utilisation of modern solar and geothermal technologies including solar cookers, geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters and solar water pumping etc to take full advantage of the available natural energy resources, on one hand and to meet the energy requirements of the country, on the other.
The Government is considering importing energy from Iran and Central Asian Republics and using indigenous sources, such as, hydel, coal, waste, wind, and solar power, as well as other alternate and renewable energy sources, besides nuclear power plants for production of energy.
The country has an energy deficit of approximately 5000MW - only producing around two-thirds of its energy requirements. According to the data available with PEPCO, the shortfall has increased to 3,120MW forcing increased hours of load shedding in the country. The electricity generation was recorded at with hydel generation providing 3,607MW, WAPDA thermal 1,920MW, IPPs 4,975MW and Rental Power 62MW.
A country that uses oil for almost 40% of its primary energy needs, the fact that crude prices are rising again is enough to remind it of the energy crisis that continues to haunt it. A strategy to cut the current account deficit has to deal with cutting oil imports and this can be achieved by reducing reliance on power-generation from furnace oil. These are the five pillars on which the People's Government is building a prosperous Pakistan.
The People's Government is committed to establishing a comprehensive and credible program that ensures energy security and adequacy of supply to maximum use of indigenous water and hydrocarbon resources, energy conservation, development of alternative energy including wind and solar energy, reviving Keti Bunder project and establishing an energy corridor from Central Asia to Balochistan with a sustainable program to bring energy to the doorstep of the poor.
The People's Government is focusing on short, medium and long-term measures to fulfil energy needs of Pakistan. More than 2,000MW to the national power grid would be added this year, which would be equal to the electricity, added last year 2010.
President Asif Ali Zardari has asked for an early adoption and utilisation of modern solar and geothermal technologies including solar cookers, geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters and solar water pumping etc to take full advantage of the available natural energy resources, on one hand and to meet the energy requirements of the country, on the other.
The new vision depends heavily on use of indigenous fuel resources like coal, hydel, gas and renewable, Diamer Bhasha Dam and Thar Coal Project as part of efforts to rid the country of electricity shortages. The provincial government has decided to inaugurate the work on Bhasha Dam in the presence of President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. It would generate 4500 MW electricity which would enhance the life of Tarbella Dam by 35 years.
Diamer Basha Dam Project will be the highest Roller Compacted Concrete Dam in the world, height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen (14) gates each 11.5 m x 16.24 m. The gross capacity of the reservoir will be 8.1 MAF, with a live storage of 6.4 MAF. Two (2) underground power houses are being proposed, one on each side of the main dam having six (6) turbines on each side with total installed capacity 4500 MW. Scheduled completion period of the project is w.e.f. 2009 to 2016, cost US $8.505 Billion. Diamer-Bhasha Dam would ensure food and water security, besides increasing cultivable lands. The project would also extend the life of Tarbela Dam, located downstream, by 35 years and would help control flood damages in the country.
This project was in delay due to the decision of compensation for victims land owners. The previous doctorial governments were not fair to peoples and just tooting for people rather than resolve. The peoples government has resolved all the disputed matters relating this delay and now the project on way to lighten up Pakistan.