The government on Thursday informed all donors that the country required $25 billion to secure its energy requirements in the next 10 years.| Even PEPCO isn't quite that brash. |
Pakistan needs $18.45 billion to construct five big dams by 2016, including Kalabagh Dam, to ensure a water storage capacity of 20.7 million acres feet (MAF), Water and Power Ministry Secretary Ashfaq Mehmood told participants at the 5th Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) on Thursday.
“However, the total requirement for agriculture and generating electricity is $25 million in the next 10 years,” said Mehmood. The overall investment of $25 billion would be required for constructing new big dams, canals, drainage system, flood control programme and improvements in the water and electricity sector, he added.
The secretary said the country’s installed capacity in electricity stood at 19,590 megawatts (MWs) and total demand was 14,091 MWs. “Demand will rise to 20,161 MWs by 2010, 44,653 MWs by 2020 and 64,595 MWs by 2025,” he said. Pakistan falls short by nine MAF water for its current agriculture needs, the shortage would increase to 20 MAF by year 2020 and 25 MAF by 2025, he added. “The country needs to irrigate an additional 18 million acres of land to produce sufficient food.”
“The government is also constructing three medium-sized dams (Mirani Dam, Subak Zai Dam and Gomal Zam Dam) and 35 small dams,” said Mehmood. The Mangla Dam would improve the country’s water storage capacity by 2.9 MAF on completion, he said. “All documentation for the constriction of Kalabagh Dam has been completed and the dam’s construction will be started after the provinces reach a consensus, he added.
The secretary told donors that the Economic Internal Rate of Return upon investment in Kalabagh Dam was the highest, standing at 23.6 percent as compared to 23.4 percent in Bhasha Dam. He said the country would be able to store water for the Rabi season from 80 percent river flows of the Kharif season after the five major dams were constructed. He added that water seepage level was between 40 to 45 percent and needed to be reduced through the construction and maintenance of the canal system. |