Identification of Barriers to the Development of Hydropower Projects in Pakistan /

Abstract

Hydropower is emission free and an economical renewable source. World rely on hydropower for 20 % of its total electricity needs. Hydropower technology is well developed in more than 150 countries. Pakistan is a developing country which relies on fossil fuels for its power generation requirements despite huge hydropower potential of 60,000 MW. The installed generation capacity of the system stands at 25,100 MW. Share of hydropower in this capacity is almost 6902 MW. Inclination towards thermal power and delay in the hydropower generation projects has indicated the barriers in development of the hydropower of Pakistan in recent past. Research objective of this study was to evaluate all those barriers in the development of hydropower sector in Pakistan. This study intended to unearth the limitations behind the development of hydropower projects. In this part of research, those factors were evaluated that remained important in the implementation of hydropower projects. To carry out analysis, a questionnaire was developed based on literature review. This questionnaire contained open ended questions to acquire unstructured data from different stakeholders including public sectors departments, private developers and different international organizations working in hydropower sector of Pakistan. The data was analyzed using NVIVO Word Frequency Theory and Text Search Theory. A second questionnaire was developed based on the variables identified from NVIVO analysis. Then structured interviews were conducted by using Q-Method. In this method each respondent was asked to grade each variable depending upon its severity and will justify its choice by giving a statement. Analysis of Q-method results helped to develop four distinct discourses related to hydropower sector of Pakistan. The four discourses included impediments to private sector, contingent cost overrun, lack of coherent planning in hydropower sector of Pakistan and dysfunctional government institutions.