Pakistan spends Rs 5.8bn on energy, equivalent to KBD cost

[Dubious]

KARACHI: Pakistan has spent $5.806 billion of foreign reserves to import power-generating machinery in the last five years, which is almost equal to the projected cost of 3,600 Megawatts’ capacity Kalabagh Dam (KBD).

According to the figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), during the past five fiscal years, Pakistan has imported almost $6 billion worth of power generation machinery.

Due to unending energy crises in the country, Pakistan is continuously spending its precious foreign reserves on importing power-generating machinery while the energy shortage continues to be there for the last ten years.

It was estimated in 1998 that the dam would take 7 years for the first power unit to come in to operation, so, if KBD would have been built, Pakistan could saved the said amount, but the dam has been politicised by some factions of the political parties which is adversely impacting the trade deficit.

The imports of power-generating machines have jacked up by around 27% to $1.38 billion in fiscal year 2014-15 (FY15) as against $1.09 billion in FY14. The increase in import took place due to continuously power shortfall that is still hovering between 4,000 megawatts (MW) to 5,000 MW during the outgoing fiscal.

Unprecedented climate changes in Pakistan this year have deepened the existing energy crisis, as increased electricity demand due to sultry weather condition across the country escalated power shortfall.

In the month of June, when the electricity demand doubled due to heatwave, Pakistani imported $171.82 million worth power-generating machinery which was 73% more if compared to the value of $102.92 million machinery imported in June 2014.

Power generation machinery import bill increased by 66% in June, when compared to $104.15 million in May.

Analysts believe that the situation is getting worse day by day as due to rising temperature and population, the demand of electricity has been increasing but the government is still depending on installed capacity which may lead to severe breakdowns in future as witnessed in Ramazan.

The experts have said that KBD would guarantee sufficient and cheap electricity as thermal power costs Rs16 per unit, whereas hydel power costs Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 per unit.

The KBD would have the capacity of generating 3,600MW electricity that would save $4 billion annually for the country, excluding the 30% line losses.

The KBD project site is located 210 km downstream of Tarbela Dam and 26 km upstream of Jinnah Barrage on the River Indus. The total project cost at June 1998 price level, including contingencies, price escalation and interest during construction, was estimated as $ 5.70 billion.

Pakistan spends Rs 5.8bn on energy, equivalent to KBD cost

 

[Hyde]

We must not forget that the estimated cost of KBD is from June 1998... From what I remember the same figures were mentioned back in 2005-06 during Musharraf's regime when he hinted his ambitions towards construction of Kalabagh dam. I think it will easily surpass 10 billion dollars or may be 13-15 billion dollars after the prices adjusted in 2015.

But it's not an issue, the importance of KBD is the key and it is indeed very important project for Pakistan. The question is the matter of urgency and priorities, whether to complete it before Diamer-Bhasha, Dasu, Munda dam and Bunji hydropower project or pushing it once again for KBD.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Inefficient leaders and broken federal government, nation has no ability to take up MEGA projects

People consider supermarket building as MEGA projects in Pakistan

 

[Umair Nawaz]

kalabagh dam if we build would be better investment.

 

[datalibdaz]

Basha Diamer has much more benefits than KBD...Why not build that....It would increase the life of Tarbela Dam by 30 years...Basha reservoir capacity is much more than KBD...Cost of Basha is $14 Billion while Kalabagh is $12 Billion....Not much of cost difference...Annual benefits alone from Basha reservoir is $2 Billion (sale of Electricity not included)...Why not Basha...Why KBD?

 

[Viper0011.]

We must not forget that the estimated cost of KBD is from June 1998... From what I remember the same figures were mentioned back in 2005-06 during Musharraf's regime when he hinted his ambitions towards construction of Kalabagh dam.

There are fan boys who don't like anything progressive going on in their OWN country and the post these kind of threads for propaganda but its useless and will always be. Then there is people like you and I, who bring the truth out and we get hated on lol. You are right on the dime, these estimates are from when I was a little kid!!!!

Mushy the cushy didn't know, nor cared for the economy, every time this dam's issue comes up, they repeat the same numbers. If anyone in the past 70 years had cared to think and say, what would happen 70 or even 40 years down the line with growing population, etc, etc.....life would be different today and no power outages will take place !!!

Last but not least, these people posting this crap, just to make a point, still don't use common sense. The dam in question is a national tragedy for you guys. I've heard about it like 2 decades ago. There is no consensus on it and hasn't been. So should the government not do anything as no one else's has been able to get a consensuses on this? And just waste precious time and money? That's usually the case. But these guys are doing something and its visible to the naked eye. So let them finish their work. People hate these people because they are actually getting things done, instead of actually sitting on their lazy rear like everyone else has done ruling Pakistan for 70 years!!!

Inefficient leaders and broken federal government, nation has no ability to take up MEGA projects

People consider supermarket building as MEGA projects in Pakistan

Your post make me wonder if you write in your sleep or if you are on strong meds that make you forget about the outside world. What's a metro bus project? What's a metro train project? What's a motorway project? What are the Dam extension projects? What are university campuses being built across the nation called? What are re-training and equipping your police force with counter terrorism weapons and training called? What are free schools and their expanding footprint called? What is the gas pipeline from Tajikstan, another one from Iran called? What's an economic corridor......?????????

These are ALL MEGA PROJECTS !!!! And you don't think the nation can take up a MEGA project.....the nation HAS been finishing these project very fast this time, compared to the past 70 years, where the only highways that went through your country was built by the British, same for the railway system. But if you see the list above....there are PLENTY of Mega projects. Been sleeping the entire past couple of years??? There are some animals who sleep the entire summer or winter.......but a human asleep for two years, is VERY rare. You feeling better now that you are awake?

 

[Faiez]

The problem with Kala Bagh Dam is that the contract will be too lucrative for politicians, so they stop opposing parties from initiating it.....It's like Kashmir, na hamara, na tumhara.....

 

[HariPrasad]

Once again improper planing and lack of sense of priority. Plan better .

 

[Dubious]

There are fan boys who don't like anything progressive going on in their OWN country and the post these kind of threads for propaganda but its useless and will always be

We spent the same amount which we could have built a dam and have LESSER problems but of course blind man like you cant see TRUTH!

 

[Erroroverload]

ALL of this happening because of our sincere patriotic politicians .

Once again improper planing and lack of sense of priority. Plan better .

GOOD Planing and PAKISTANI POLITICIAN,,, noway,,,

 

[kamrananvaar]

There are fan boys who don't like anything progressive going on in their OWN country and the post these kind of threads for propaganda but its useless and will always be. Then there is people like you and I, who bring the truth out and we get hated on lol. You are right on the dime, these estimates are from when I was a little kid!!!!

Mushy the cushy didn't know, nor cared for the economy, every time this dam's issue comes up, they repeat the same numbers. If anyone in the past 70 years had cared to think and say, what would happen 70 or even 40 years down the line with growing population, etc, etc.....life would be different today and no power outages will take place !!!

Last but not least, these people posting this crap, just to make a point, still don't use common sense. The dam in question is a national tragedy for you guys. I've heard about it like 2 decades ago. There is no consensus on it and hasn't been. So should the government not do anything as no one else's has been able to get a consensuses on this? And just waste precious time and money? That's usually the case. But these guys are doing something and its visible to the naked eye. So let them finish their work. People hate these people because they are actually getting things done, instead of actually sitting on their lazy rear like everyone else has done ruling Pakistan for 70 years!!!



Your post make me wonder if you write in your sleep or if you are on strong meds that make you forget about the outside world. What's a metro bus project? What's a metro train project? What's a motorway project? What are the Dam extension projects? What are university campuses being built across the nation called? What are re-training and equipping your police force with counter terrorism weapons and training called? What are free schools and their expanding footprint called? What is the gas pipeline from Tajikstan, another one from Iran called? What's an economic corridor......?????????

These are ALL MEGA PROJECTS !!!! And you don't think the nation can take up a MEGA project.....the nation HAS been finishing these project very fast this time, compared to the past 70 years, where the only highways that went through your country was built by the British, same for the railway system. But if you see the list above....there are PLENTY of Mega projects. Been sleeping the entire past couple of years??? There are some animals who sleep the entire summer or winter.......but a human asleep for two years, is VERY rare. You feeling better now that you are awake?

You are the one thats still daydreaming. What university campuses are being built across the nation ? Where are these so called camuses .this govt is just doing white wash they are writing university instead of college and more funds have to be disposed to uni than college , so more chance to plunder. Thats what they did to my medical college now its a university. And can you tell me where else can you get a university with just one dept. There are more departments in a uni.

 

[Erroroverload]

our politician will plan a 70billion metro bt will not plan 4 floods that destroys everything each year

 

[Dubious]

You are the one thats still daydreaming. What university campuses are being built across the nation ? Where are these so called camuses .this govt is just doing white wash they are writing university instead of college and more funds have to be disposed to uni than college , so more chance to plunder. Thats what they did to my medical college now its a university. And can you tell me where else can you get a university with just one dept. There are more departments in a uni.

You are talking to a blind nooni worshipper who finds EVERY OTHER politician did something wrong to Pakistan ESP THE ARMY EXCEPT noonis...They are as white as phatta wa dhood!

our politician will plan a 70billion metro bt will not plan 4 floods that destroys everything each year

If they plan that...Then who will do their fotoshooting in flood waters?

Who will want to REBUILD HALF THE NATION and more chances to eat up the money, right? See they are planning....CORRUPTION PLANNING!

It takes 1 TERM to realize a problem and START PLANNING but for Shabaz Shareff it takes 7-8 yrs to STILL NOT PLAN!

 

[Lavrentiy]

our politician will plan a 70billion metro bt will not plan 4 floods that destroys everything each year

Because a metro would give that politician votes in the urban centers

while

dams would have no attraction for their voters. Who would vote in Lahore if Ganja spent all the money on a dam which most Lahoris would never see with their eyes?
--------------------
This is called political economy my friend.

 

[WishLivePak]

Because a metro would give that politician votes in the urban centers

while

dams would have no attraction for their voters. Who would vote in Lahore if Ganja spent all the money on a dam which most Lahoris would never see with their eyes?
--------------------
This is called political economy my friend.

Not true. If Nawaz fixes electricity, it automatically means they win 2018 election. It'll benefit the poor and rich (industrilists).

Oh and in 1998 even if we started progress, we couldn't complete it thanks to sanctions that follows after nuclear tests etc.

Finally, our reserves have hit I think highest in Pakjstan history. They're almost $19b.

Also this machinery, which is it? Coal, diesel, nuclear? Need more info. Finally, 5 past years mean 3 years of PPP and we all know how competent they were.