Hydroelectricity: World Bank invests in Pakistan

The World Bank is investing $1.15 billion in hydropower in Pakistan, boosting renewable energy production and creating new infrastructure to transform the energy landscape and reduce dependence on oil.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The hydropower developed in Pakistan will greatly increase the production of renewable energy and strengthen Pakistani businesses. Back in 2018, the country inaugurated a 969 MW hydroelectric dam. To support this project, the World Bank has invested $1.15 billion in the construction of new infrastructure.

Hydropower supported by the Pakistani government

World Bank President Najy Benhassine and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division, Noor Ahmed, signed two loan agreements. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan oversaw the new agreement.

A hydroelectric project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Under the first agreement, $450 million will be allocated to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydropower and Renewable Energy Development project. Two hydropower sites will be created, with 88cMW at Gabral-Kalam and 157 MW at Madyan. This agreement has been validated by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, WAPDA and the National Transmission and Dispatch Company.

Hydropower in Pakistan

 

A new 255 km transport line

A second agreement, worth $700 million, will create a 765 kW double-circuit transmission line. This will enable electricity to be transported between the DASU hydroelectric plant and Islamabad, via Mansehra. The DASU site represents 2.16 GW.

A new project for the country’s hydroelectric future

On the one hand, the World Bank is investing in the development of renewable energies in the country, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. On the other hand, the new transmission line is an open door to the future. This investment will help Pakistani companies to adopt new ecological approaches and build new sites.

This infrastructure will also make it possible to evacuate the electricity generated by the new hydroelectric structures. Indeed, the IRENA report estimates Pakistan’s untapped hydropower potential at 60 GW of installed capacity. Enough to cover the country’s entire electricity needs.

Towards an overhaul of Pakistan’s energy landscape.

While hydroelectric power accounts for almost 30% of the electricity consumed in Pakistan, according to IRENA, the country has also discovered significant wind power potential. A colossal advance for a country dependent on oil production and the use of biomass. Pakistan is the 6ᵉ largest oil-based electricity-producing country in the world.

Gabon has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Todini to develop two hydropower plants in Booué and Tsengué-Lélédi, with an estimated value of $1.78 billion to address electricity shortages.
Le groupe Axian renforce son portefeuille énergétique avec le projet de barrage de Volobe à Madagascar, une initiative estimée à $670mn visant à étendre l’accès à l’électricité dans un pays en proie à de fortes tensions sociales.
Nagano Prefecture has commissioned a new 1.5MW hydropower plant to supply Seiko Epson’s Ina facility under a sleeved power purchase agreement managed by Chubu Electric Power Miraiz.
The Senate's economic affairs committee recommends including the reform of the legal framework for dams in the upcoming energy bill to avoid competitive tendering, following a principle agreement between Paris and Brussels.
The Canadian government is investing nearly CAD17mn ($12.4mn) to support two hydroelectric initiatives led by Indigenous communities in Quebec, aiming to reduce diesel dependency in remote regions.
Federal funding targets FORCE’s PICO platform and an Acadia study on fish–turbine collision risks, aiming to reduce regulatory uncertainty and accelerate industrial adoption in the Bay of Fundy.
The Norwegian operator plans to install a third turbine to capture part of today’s bypassed floodwater without changing the flow on the salmon stretch; commissioning would be at the earliest in 2030. —
Norway’s Statkraft continues its exit from the Indian market with the sale of its Tidong hydropower project to JSW Energy, which strengthens its asset portfolio in Himachal Pradesh.
Eco Wave Power and BladeRanger have unveiled a first-of-its-kind drone-powered maintenance system for onshore wave energy infrastructure, aimed at reducing operational costs and improving system performance.
A TEHA-Enel report highlights that 86% of Italy's hydropower concessions are expiring, threatening key investments and the country's energy security.
Hull Street Energy has signed an agreement to acquire thirteen hydroelectric dams from Consumers Energy, totalling 132 MW, further consolidating its position in the North American hydro sector.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is now fully operational, with a planned capacity of 5,150 MW, marking a key step in the country’s energy deployment.
Sweden's Minesto begins a SEK25mn ($2.26mn) tidal microgrid project in the Faroe Islands, targeting integration with local applications such as electric vehicle charging and industrial processes.
The Grand Renaissance Dam, set to be inaugurated in September, aims to produce 5,000 megawatts and could generate up to $1 billion per year for Ethiopia, according to the government.
A principle agreement between Paris and Brussels opens the way to reforming the legal framework of hydroelectric concessions in France, ending a deadlock that lasted over ten years.
Swedish company Eco Wave Power has completed testing of its technology at the Port of Los Angeles, reaching a tangible milestone with the launch of its floaters to generate electricity from waves.
Georgia Power continues technical upgrades at several hydroelectric plants in Georgia, with approval from the public regulator, to ensure the reliability of the state’s electricity grid.
A landmark auction in Brazil allocates 815 MW to medium-sized hydroelectric plants, with grid injection scheduled from 2030.
ISDN Holdings strengthens its position in Indonesia by acquiring a majority stake in PT Funda, integrating hydropower capabilities across the entire project lifecycle and consolidating its renewable energy investments.
The Port of Suao becomes the first site in Taiwan open to commercial testing of wave energy production, following the allocation of Lot C to I-KE International Ocean Energy Co., partner of Eco Wave Power.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.