Rehablitation of Chitral and Dargai hydropower plants

Pakistan has been facing a sustainable energy crisis since 2015, one that has been exacerbated owing to the country’s increasing demand for energy resulting in frequent load-shedding. To meet this growing demand, the Government of Pakistan developed its

Vision 2025 Programme with the objective of developing the country's hydroelectric resources, whose potential is estimated to be more than 54,000 MW.

The programme, which the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is in charge of implementing, envisions an additional 9,500 MW of hydroelectric production by 2025.

Among the projects contributing to this goal are the rehabilitation of the Chitral and Dargai hydroelectric power plants, which will enable the Pakistani authorities to gain 27 MW of additional power through clean and green energy.

Dargai was a 20 MW run-of-the-river power station located on the Swat Canal whose construction was commissioned in 1952. Chitral is a 1 MW power plant dating back to 1975 located on the right bank of the Luthko River, 8 kilometres north from the city of Chitral.

Owing to wear and tear, the capacity of both plants has been reduced. This project seeks to rehabilitate these two plants in order to restore or exceed their original energy capacity.

In Dargai, this project seeks to:

• Increase the installed capacity of the plant to 22 MW;
• Modernise Balance of Plant (BOP), switchyard and peripheral equipment by refurbishing existing equipment or replacing it entirely;
• Rectify technical issues in the power channel, sand trap and forebay by updating the civil structures.

In Chitral, this project will:

• Increase the installed capacity of the plant to 5 MW
• Construct a three metre high permanent weir;
• Upgrade the existing intake structure and reconstruct the 3,675m long power channel;
• Install two new penstocks as well as new electro-mechanical equipment;
• Construct a 132kV transmission line to the substation.

• Increase in the country's hydropower generation by 27 MW and restore energy supply in the area: The proposed facilities for the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy are expected to meet current as well as the future needs of the Chitral and Malak and regions.
• Provision of employment opportunities for locals within the area: The plant's operation and maintenance over 30 years is expected to provide a livelihood to about 100 people directly and 500 indirectly.