Wapda claims highest-ever power generation.

Byline: bKhalid Hasnain

LAHORE -- The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) claims to have recorded the highest ever power generation of 37.4 billion units during the fiscal year 2019-20 (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), breaking the previous year's record of 31.17 billion units.

Earlier, during the fiscal year, 2015-16, Wapda had attained then highest generation of 33.15 billion units, Dawn has learnt.

'Getting the highest ever generation of 37.4 billion units during this period is a matter of great pleasure and honour for Wapda and its employees, as it all happened due to naturally improved hydrological conditions, completion of three major hydel power projects (Tarbela-4th extension, Neelum Jhelum and Golen Gol, good operation and maintenance of the old projects / plants / power stations and improved efficiency of the technical staff,' Wapda chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain told Dawn on Tuesday.

'The Neelum-Jhleum Hydropower Project's installed capacity is 969MW. And it once even touched a figure of 1,040MW. It means those deputed to operate the machines are using their skills to improve efficiency of the project,' he added.

According to Wapda, the surged hydel generation in 2019-20 not only helped the country overcome power shortages but also stabilize the power tariff. The authority successfully completed and commissioned three long-delayed mega hydropower projects with cumulative generation capacity of 2,487MW.

With commissioning of the 108MW Golen Gol, the 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension and the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower projects in 2018, the installed generation capacity of hydroelectric power surged to 9,389MW from 6,902MW, registering an increase of 36 per...