North without Power

The micro-hydro power plants suffer significant damage due to floods in the country’s northern regions

Unprecedented floods caused by late monsoon rains that have killed over 1,500 people and affected the lives of over 33 million, have also completely washed away roads, crops, bridges, and infrastructure in Pakistan.

An estimated 1 million houses have been damaged in flood-hit areas, and 735,000 animals, mostly belonging to the poor, have died as a result of the floodwaters that devastated the country’s southern, southwestern, and northern regions. Preliminary estimates by government officials put the damage at more than $10 billion, a significant blow to Pakistan’s already fragile economy.

The micro-hydro power (MHP) plants and powerhouses are one of the most important sectors that have suffered significant damage as a result of the floods in the country’s northern regions. These powerhouses are often built with funding from European donor countries by a non-governmental organisation called Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP). They are critical because they power thousands of households in Upper Swat, Upper Dir, Shangla, as well as Lower and Upper Chitral.

According to Ijaz Ali, Manager of SRSP Micro-Hydro Power Plants in Kalam, theirs is the only organisation involved in power production and generation in the aforementioned difficult terrains.

“We have continued operations in the hills of Kalam and other areas despite extremely difficult conditions. We are frequently confronted with faults and damage, but the SRSP has been working to increase the capacity of local staff. Our organisation has received international recognition after receiving the Green Oscar award. However, our services are not recognised locally or nationally,” he expressed.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the SRSP has established 354 micro-hydro projects of varying sizes. These projects have an electricity generation capacity of nearly 33 MW, benefiting approximately 100,000 households or 750,000 people who do not have access to government power supply schemes.

The majority of micro hydro projects have been handed over to local communities, where local staff operate the projects, perform maintenance, and are in charge of billing. However, the SRSP continues to manage the larger MHPs as a social enterprise in collaboration with local communities, complete with a robust billing mechanism and an operation and maintenance fund.

“At least 16 larger MHP units established in northern parts of the province were severely damaged during the recent floods. SRSP ran these units as social enterprises, with joint management involving SRSP and local communities, providing cheap electricity to over 12,000 households and commercial ventures, including local businesses, hotels, hospitals, and schools, or nearly 100,000 people,” Ijaz Ali detailed.

The SRSP built and operates seven MHPs in Swat, producing 3,500kW of electricity. Of these seven, the two larger units at Ashura and Bahrain are the worst affected.

Ijaz Ali estimated, “The 1,200kW Ashuran, which serves 1,153 domestic and 133 commercial customers in Upper Swat, will require at least Rs29 million to resume operations. Similarly, the 400kW Bahrain II project will require around Rs41 million to repair flood damage. The total estimated cost, therefore, for the reconstruction of all seven Swat projects will be around Rs99 million.”

The Ashura and Jungle Inn power projects both provide electricity to Kalam, a popular tourist destination. The MHPs generate uninterrupted, cheap, and renewable electricity for 3,293 consumers, including 2,722 domestic and 571 commercial customers, with a combined capacity of 1,600kW.

“Both power plants serve customers within a 12-kilometer radius. Domestic consumers pay Rs4 per unit, while commercial customers pay Rs12. Since 2017, these rates have remained unchanged. All of our employees are Kalam residents, but the entire town will be without power unless urgent funding is provided for the reconstruction and restoration of the powerhouses,” SRSP manager maintained.

The flood-related losses incurred by five SRSP MHP projects in Chitral are estimated to be around Rs74 million.

“For reconstruction and operation, the 500kW Booni MHP and 2,000kW Koh projects will cost Rs26 and 21 million, respectively. Similarly, a smaller, 200kW Sarujalik project in Kalash’s Bamburat valley will cost Rs12 million,” he added.

Furthermore, reconstruction of six powerhouses will cost Rs18 and 26 million in Shangla and Dir Upper districts, respectively.

Ijaz Ali hopes that the SRSP’s credibility as a result of its track record will persuade donors, particularly the European Union (EU), to contribute generously to the reconstruction of the powerhouses that provided clean electricity to thousands of households prior to the floods.

“SRSP’s cutting-edge technology and viable model of providing cheap and renewable energy has resulted in its international recognition through multiple prestigious awards, including the Ashden Award-UK, 2015; the Energy Globe Award, 2017; and the UK Energy Initiative Excellence Award, 2017; in addition to the Green Oscar award,” he added.

The international community and donors have pledged humanitarian aid to Pakistan’s flood victims. It is common knowledge that flood-affected areas will require years of rehabilitation and development. Governments, non-governmental organisations, international donors, and philanthropists have gradually begun mobilising resources to provide any possible assistance to the people affected by these devastating floods.

“In these difficult times, SRSP has already mobilised its teams to provide need-based assistance to affected communities, based on its experience from previous crises; earthquake 2005, floods 2010, IDP crises 2009-10, and TDP crises 2012-19. Some of the notable immediate activities undertaken by SRSP include dewatering efforts, providing shelters and food items, providing dignity kits, and establishing women-friendly spaces,” Ijaz Ali explained, adding, “SRSP has also launched a mobilisation campaign requesting national and international agencies and philanthropists to extend any possible support to the affected population.”