POWERING PAKISTAN’S ENERGY TRANSITION
Energy drives development, but renewables are not only sustainable — they also help to achieve other global goals. In 2022, the OPEC Fund provided US$41 million to the energy sector in partner countries worldwide.
Stretching from the Pamir and Karakoram mountains in the north- west to the Arabian Sea in the south, Pakistan boasts a rich array of landscapes including valleys, plateaus and river plains. Thanks to its unique geography, it is blessed with rich water resources — and vast potential in hydropower. After a steep decline in the 1990s, hydropower is making a comeback, as the government is working hard to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. The move will help the country meet its international climate commitments, as Pakistan aims to cut projected emissions by 50 percent while generating 30 percent of power via renewable energy by 2030. The Mohmand multipurpose dam, on the Swat River in the northwest of the country, will play a key role in meeting these targets. Supported with a US$72 million loan from the OPEC Fund, the dam will contribute reliable electricity for Pakistan’s entire population, and be connected to the grid for up to 4 hours per day during the dry season.
The Mohmand dam is a multipurpose project, which is likely to contribute significantly to water, food and energy security in Pakistan. As the fifth-highest concrete-faced rockfill dam in the world, Mohmand will help mitigate floods and irrigate more than 18,000 acres of land. The dam will contribute to the national grid 2.8 GWh per year of low-cost and environmentally friendly hydroelectricity, while providing 300 million gallons of water per day to Peshawar for drinking purposes. Estimated annual benefits of the project stand at 51.6 billion Pakistan rupees, around US$180 million.
LT. GEN. SAJJAD GHANI (RETD.) Chairman of Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority
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