Case Study on Hydropolitics in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Energy and Water Impacts of Kunar River Development
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146, Issue 9
Abstract
There is growing interest from Afghanistan in using the untapped hydroelectric potential of the Kabul River Basin, on which both Pakistan and Afghanistan are simultaneously upstream and downstream riparians, to meet the energy demands of the country. This study evaluated the hydropower production potential and transboundary flow impacts of water infrastructure development on a major tributary of the Kabul, the Kunar River, under different climate and water management policy scenarios. An existing process-based distributed hydrologic model for the study region was coupled with an optimization-based reservoir operation and routing model developed for this study. Various scenarios representing climatic, water infrastructure development, and management futures were designed, and their relative impacts on energy generation and water availability in each country were evaluated. The results indicate that the reservoir operation objective is the dominant driver of systemwide hydropower and streamflow. Outcomes from potential water management scenarios where either country acts unilaterally are also illustrated. The results shed light on the potential benefits of joint development and operation of water infrastructure in the basin for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request: observed streamflow at gauge stations across the basin and observed and remotely sensed precipitation and temperature across the basin. Reservoir routing model developed for this study.
Acknowledgments
This research was conducted as part of the project “Using Water Resources Systems Analysis to Guide a Transboundary Kabul River Water Partnership,” designed and implemented by Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program supported the project.
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146 • Issue 9 • September 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 10, 2019
Accepted: Mar 9, 2020
Published online: Jun 18, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 18, 2020
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