Aga Khan Rural Support

Programme (AKRSP),
Pakistan
2004
2004
Solar power for communities, farmers and market traders
across India
Summary
The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) has installed over 180 micro-hydro power units
in Chitral District, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. These supply electricity to about
175,000 people. The main use is for better quality lighting, but the ability to use radio, television
and appliances like electric butter churners is also greatly valued.

The Ashden judges commended this project for its success in providing reliable electrical services
in very remote areas, and in promoting community participation. Communities have to commit both
labour and cash to the construction of the micro-hydro unit, and they take responsibility for
managing and maintaining the system.

The organisation
The AKRSP is a non-profit organisation, which was established in 1982 by the Aga Khan
Foundation of Pakistan. The main purpose of the AKRSP is to reduce poverty in Northern
Pakistan. The Chitral Office of the AKRSP which manages the micro-hydro programme has a staff
of about 50 people.

Contact name: Mr Miraj Khan

Address: Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP)
Chitral
Pakistan
Telephone: +92-933-412720, 412979
Fax: +92-933-412516

Context
Communities in the remote areas of the Hindu Kush mountains are scattered and isolated, and far
removed from conventional electricity supplies. They have traditionally used smoky and unreliable
pinewood torches and, more recently, costly kerosene lamps for lighting. The region's many fast-
flowing rivers, however, make it well suited for the generation of electricity through small-scale
hydro power, produced without the use of intrusive large dams.
Technology and use
Hydro power uses the energy of fast-moving water to rotate the blades of a turbine at high speed.
The turbine turns an electrical generator, which produces AC electric power.

The AKRSP schemes work like this: a fraction of the river water is diverted into a gently sloping
channel running along the slope of the hill, at a much lesser gradient than the main stream below.
After some distance, there's a 30 metre or more height difference between the channel and the
river. The water from the channel is then sent down a pipe, known as a 'penstock', with a narrow
exit jet. That gives the water sufficient force to rotate the blades of a Pelton turbine, which turns the
220 volt electrical generator via a V-belt drive. (The water is then released back into the river). The
power output is regulated to meet the electricity demand by the simple means of a gate valve in
front of the turbine. Power output of the system varies from about 20 to 75 kW, depending on the
size of the community and the capacity of the river.

The turbine, generator and control systems are located in a small turbine house in the valley, from
where distribution cables supply power to nearby communities.

All the components of the system are made in Pakistan, except for the generator and electrical
meters which are imported from China.

Training and support

Key to the success of the AKRSP work is the active and continuing involvement of local
management. 'Village Organisations', formed by the communities themselves with the support of
the AKRSP, provide the framework by which local people contribute cash, materials and labour for
the construction of the diversion channel and other parts of the micro-hydro system.

Once the scheme is up and running, a village-based Management Committee oversees both the
technical operation and the allocation of electricity. AKRSP requires that the management
committee pays for an operator and a watchman for each system, and builds up a maintenance
fund to pay for repairs.

AKRSP train the operators, and keep in contact through six-monthly feedback meetings with a
'master trainer' who is responsible for a group of 15-18 micro-hydro units. The prime responsibility
for maintenance and repair is with the management committee, and follow up checks suggest that
over 90% of the systems are well maintained.

The management committees also decide how to levy electricity charges. Typically, families are
charged a connection fee of 6,000 rupees (£60), and then pay 3-5 rupees per kWh of electricity,
with lower charges for poorer members of the community. Some committees charge more for
energy-hungry appliances like washing machines, and manage the electrical load by restricting
their use in the evenings when the demand for lighting and television is high.

Some communities sell surplus electricity to businesses, schools and government offices.

Benefits of the project

Since the programme started in the late 1980s, AKRSP has installed over 180 micro-hydro
systems, which provide electricity to about 17,500 households or 175,000 people. This is about
half the 'off-grid' population in the region.

The major benefit of the project is access to electric light. This gives better and safer illumination
than pinewood sticks or kerosene. Good light has reduced the number of burns associated with
cooking, and the hazard of scorpion stings. Children have more opportunity to study at night after
helping in the fields, and this is making a major difference to the quality of their education. This is
starting to have economic benefits, as the education allows young people to gain access to better-
paid work. Women have increased their earnings substantially from production of shu, a traditional
woollen cloth, and other craft items. Lighting means that people visit each other more in the
evenings.

Villagers who met the Ashden judge were most enthusiastic about having access to television and
radio. Other popular uses for electricity are for butter churners, fans and occasionally washing
machines, and, in schools, computers.

Overall, the coming of electricity to the valleys has opened up social and economic opportunities
for these remote communities which, in the long term, reduces the risk that they will be abandoned
by people desperate for what they see as a better life in the towns.

Management, finance and partnerships

The project is managed by the Chitral office of the AKRSP. The AKRSP makes the initial contact
with communities, and undertakes the installation with their collaboration.

Funding for the micro-hydro programme has come from the Aga Khan Foundation; the UK
Department for International Development; and the Government of Pakistan.

The AKRSP can provide the technical support and understanding of management needs, to install
similar systems elsewhere. This has led to the introduction of micro-hydro schemes elsewhere in
northern Pakistan, and also across the border in Afghanistan.

Much of the Chitral project area is suffering significant deforestation, and there is great pressure on
the supply of fuelwood for cooking and winter heating. AKRSP run a reforestation programme, and
plant about six million tree seedlings per year.

The micro-hydro units installed to date have not been designed to support cooking and heating,
which demand significantly more energy per household than current uses. The AKRSP will use the
Ashden Award to look more fully at options for providing heat, including larger micro hydro systems
(where water supplies are sufficient) and the introduction of low-wattage radiators. They will also
explore introducing additional services, such as shared electric laundry facilities.

This report is based on information provided to the Ashden Awards judges by AKRSP, and findings from a
visit by one of the judges to see their work.
The Ashden Awards has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this report is
full and accurate. However, no warranty or representation is given by The Ashden Awards that the
information contained in this report is free from errors or inaccuracies. To the extent permitted by applicable
laws, The Ashden Awards accepts no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential damages however
caused resulting from reliance on the information contained in this report.