09, Jan 2025
4th International Conference on Hydropower Pakistan 2025 (9 January 2025 – Marriott Hotel, Islamabad)
The 4th International Hydropower Conference 2025, hosted by Energy Update in collaboration with the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and the International Hydropower Association (IHA), brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and global experts to discuss hydropower’s transformative role in shaping a sustainable energy future for Pakistan.
The dignitaries including the Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Senators Sherry Rehman and Sadia Abbasi, MNAs Dr. Nafisa Shah, Sher Ali Arbab, Dr. Amjad Ali Khan, Dr. Shazray Munsab Ali graced the event. A large number of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, as well as energy and power sector experts, also participated. Speakers highlighted various challenges, including significant financing and long timelines required to construct large dams and establish hydropower projects.
Minister for Power highlighted the event as a significant step in advancing Pakistan’s hydropower sector, congratulating Energy Update, PPIB, and IHA for hosting such a productive gathering. He emphasized the importance of hydropower in creating a sustainable energy infrastructure. Senator Sherry Rehman, underscoring the critical role of sustainable energy for national development, called for tapping into Pakistan’s vast untapped hydropower potential to meet the country’s growing energy needs and stressed the reduction in cost and tariff of hydropower projects is critical to make them competitive with other renewable energy technologies.
Managing Director PPIB, Mr. Shah Jehan Mirza while speaking at the conference as Keynote Speaker, shared that Pakistan has an identified hydropower potential of 64,000 MW, but only 11,000 MW is currently being harnessed. He explained that hydropower projects, despite their long timelines, usually taking 7 to 8 years are essential for the country. He noted that securing financing for such large-scale projects can be challenging, but pointed out government’s success in attracting significant investments, citing the CPEC based 720 MW Karot & 884 MW Suki Kinari hydropower projects as prime examples and appreciated Chinese government, investors and banks for their steadfast confidence in the Pakistan’s power sector which has not only enabled the successful completion of these clean and green projects, but also has been instrumental in advancing Pakistan’s renewable energy capabilities. Mr. Mirza also highlighted that Pakistan is making progress, with green energy making up 52% of the country’s total energy mix.