Gilgit-Baltistan: hydropower haven shrouded in winter darkness

GILGIT: With the falling mercury level in Gilgit-Baltistan each year, prolonged darkness envelops the hydropower haven for days and nights, disrupting businesses and exacerbating the struggles of its residents.

As winter descends, power outages stretch up to 21 hours a day, plunging the area into despair.

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) region, despite having abundant water resources, experiences a drastic change in power dynamics as November sets in. Freezing sub-zero temperatures persist until May, causing water sources to freeze and halting hydropower generation. Due to its heavy reliance on hydropower, the region faces extended load shedding during these months.

Rough estimates suggest G-B has the potential to generate 50,000 megawatts of hydel power. However, this capacity remains underutilized, leaving over two million people in misery during harsh winters.

Low power generation, unequal distribution, lack of a local grid, absence of national grid connectivity, delayed projects, and the weather-dependent nature of existing power setups are the primary reasons for power outages in the region.

Secretary for Water and Power, Sanaullah, attributes the crisis to the basic principle of economics—demand and supply. “In winter, demand increases and supply decreases as most projects are constructed on nullahs, which freeze during winter, leaving less water for power generation. Until this demand-supply gap is bridged, load shedding remains inevitable,” he told HUM News English.

He said the worst-affected areas include Skardu, Gilgit, Central Hunza, Chilas, and Khaplu. When asked why these projects were built on nullahs despite the seasonal drop in water flow, he explained that limited financial resources necessitated the construction of smaller, more affordable power projects.

Sanaullah highlighted the absence of an energy mix as a key challenge. “G-B depends solely on hydropower. For the first time, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a 100 MW solar power project, which will diversify the energy mix. If completed, it could significantly improve the situation,” he added.

He expressed optimism about timely completion, noting that feasibility studies and PC-1 preparation were underway. “If these steps are completed on time and financing is released, installation could be swift. With government support and the prime minister’s backing, we aim to complete the project within a year,” he said.

The secretary said the region’s lack of connectivity to the national grid forces G-B to allocate a substantial portion of its Annual Development Program (ADP) budget—20 to 33% on average over the last decade—to power generation.

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When asked whether a local grid could resolve distribution issues, Sanaullah acknowledged financial constraints but confirmed that Phase I of a local grid project, connecting Hunza, Nagar, and Gilgit, is under execution. “We aim to complete this phase by 2026, earlier than the 2027 timeframe, subject to federal funding,” he added.

Many power projects in G-B have faced delays or remain non-operational, contributing to the low power generation capacity.

Sanaullah attributed these delays to harsh weather, untimely financing, and a lack of civil engineering capacity within the power department. “While we have skilled electrical engineers, we lack civil engineers,” he said. “In the last two years, there has been no delay in funding, and the government has resolved the complexities related to opening LCs for imported equipment caused by dollar issues. As a result, some power projects have been completed, and others are expected to be completed in the coming months,” he said.

Unequal distribution of electricity further exacerbates the crisis. Residents near power projects often claim ownership and demand uninterrupted supply, leaving other areas in darkness.

“It is unfortunate that this practice occurs across Gilgit-Baltistan. Its elimination poses significant challenges and will take time,” the secretary remarked.

As Pakistan grapples with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) crisis and withdraws agreements with them, Gilgit-Baltistan has handed over two power projects in Hunza to IPPs, raising concerns about affordability.

Defending the agreements, Sanaullah clarified that these were grant-based projects, costing Rs 14.16 per unit. “This cost is not burdensome as commercial tariffs in Karimabad, where the first project is operational, help bridge the gap,” he explained.

On the issue of special power lines, Sanaullah claimed these are restricted to essential facilities like hospitals, jails, sensitive communication installations, and the judiciary. “Even the Chief Minister’s House, Governor’s House, and FCNA Commander’s office do not have special lines,” he added.

Sanaullah urged judicious use of electricity to maximize supply to as many residents as possible. “If Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects with a capacity of 200 megawatts are executed on time, supported by timely financing—and I emphasize ‘if’ because some projects face administrative challenges and litigation—and the local grid is established, the situation will improve,” he concluded.