Energy Crisis In Pakistan And Its Solutions Environmental Sciences Essay

An energy crisis is any great shortfall in the supply of energy resources to an economy. It usually refers to the shortage of oil and additionally to electricity or other natural resources.

The crisis often has effects on the rest of the economy, with many recessions being caused by an energy crisis in some form. In particular, the production costs of electricity rise, which raises manufacturing costs.

For the consumer, the price of petrol and diesel for cars and other vehicles rises, leading to reduced consumer confidence and spending, higher transportation costs and general price rising.

ENERGY CRISIS IN PAKISTAN

“Crisis” is one word which has become part of ordinary Pakistani’s vocabulary like nothing else. First we have sugar crisis, then wheat followed by electricity and to add more fuel to the fire now we are going through the worst gas shortage in our history. In Punjab this crisis has hurt the most with every person suffering its consequences. Thousands of daily waged workers have become jobless in industrial areas like Faisalabad, in homes women folk is suffering to feed their children, passengers wait for hours as the public transport has no CNG while those having personal transport wait for hours in order to obtain much required CNG refilling.

Our innocent executives like their predecessor have a bucket full of excuses in order to justify this mismanagement. For price hike and declining economy they have the common tag line of “market mechanism” and “global slowdown” to justify this phenomena. In case of electricity and gas load shedding they can find no good reason but to curse increasing demand. The reality which they never accept is the fact that this shortfall is depriving our state from billions of rupees by not availing this opportunity of earning revenue, instead of wasting time on IMF imposed RGST and much more. Some conspiracy theories have floated for quite some time blaming this shortfall as a dirty mean to maximize their benefits. Like in electricity crisis they have managed to pull out the much debated Rental Power Projects while in case of gas shortage they are earning billions from taxes imposed on petroleum products and LPG. In short this recklessness can only be justified by only one reason, which is that our plans on day to day basis rather than planning in years as done in the developed countries.

Energy resources have depleted! Whatever resources are available are simply too expensive to buy or already acquired by countries which had planned and acted long time ago. Delayed efforts in the exploration sector have not been able to find sufficient amounts of energy resources. Nations of the world which have their own reserves are not supplying energy resources anymore; only the old contracts made decades ago are active. Airplanes, trains, cars, motorbikes, buses and trucks, all modes of transportation are coming to a standstill. Many industries have closed due to insufficient power supply. Price of oil has gone above the ceiling. At domestic level, alternate methods like solar, biogas and other methods are being tried for mere survival. 

The above is a likely scenario of Pakistan and around the globe after 25 years. A pessimistic view, but realistic enough to think about and plan for the future. But are we doing anything about it? Let’s have a look at the current energy situation of Pakistan and the world. 

Pakistan’s economy is performing at a very high note with GDP growing at an exceptional rate, touching 8.35% in 2004-05.In its history of 58 years, there has been only a few golden years where the economy grew above 7%. This year official expectations are that GDP growth rate will be around 6.5 – 7.0%. For the coming years, the government is targeting GDP growth rate above 6%. With economy growing at such a pace, the energy requirements are likely to increase with a similar rate. For 2004-05, Pakistan’s energy consumption touched 55.5 MTOE (Million Tons of Oil Equivalent). 

The energy consumption is expected to grow at double digit if the overall economy sustains the targeted GDP growth rate of 6% by the government. Pakistan’s energy requirements are expected to double in the next few years, and our energy requirements by 2015 is likely to cross 120MTOE. By 2030, the nation’s requirement will be 7 times the current requirement reaching 361MTOE. Pakistan’s energy requirements are fulfilled with more than 80% of energy resources through imports. 

On the other hand, international oil prices have not only broken all records but are touching new height every day directly or indirectly affecting the black gold industry. Moreover, speculators all around the world expect oil prices to touch $100 per barrel in medium term. With concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, terrorist issues in Nigeria and high economic growth in China & India and their ever rising energy requirements, oil prices don’t see any another way but to shoot upwards. 

BACKGROUND OF CRISIS FEARED IN PAKISTAN

Power crisis feared by 2007

The country may plunge into energy crisis by the year 2007 due to rising electricity demand which enters into double digit figure following increasing sale of electrical and electronic appliances on lease finance, it is reliably learnt Thursday.

“The country may face energy crisis by the year 2007 following healthy growth of 13 per cent in electricity demand during the last quarter, which will erode surplus production in absence of commissioning of any new power generation project during this financial year,” informed sources told The Nation.

As per Pakistan Economic Survey 2003-04, electricity consumption has increased by 8.6 per cent during first three-quarter of last fiscal year. However, a top level WAPDA official maintained that electricity demand surged up to 13 per cent during last quarter.

The survey said household sector has been the largest consumer of electricity accounting for 44.2 per cent of total electricity consumption followed by industries 31.1 per cent, agriculture 14.3 per cent, other government sector 7.4 per cent, commercial 5.5 per cent and street light 0.7 per cent.

Keeping in view the past trend and the future development, WAPDA has also revised its load forecast to eight per cent per annum as against previous estimates of five per cent on average. Even the revised load forecast has also failed all assessments due to which Authority has left no other option but to start load management this year, which may convert into scheduled load shedding over a period of two year, sources maintained.

The country needs a quantum jump in electricity generation in medium-term scenario to revert the possibilities of load shedding in future due to shrinking gap between demand and supply of electricity at peak hours.

According to an official report, the gap between firm supply and peak hours demand has already been shrunk to three digit (440 MW) during this fiscal and will slip into negative columns next year (-441 MW) and further intensify to (-1,457 MW) during the financial year 2006-07.

The report maintained that the difference between firm supply and peak demand is estimated at 5,529 MW by the year 2009-10 when firm electricity supply will stand at 15,055 MW against peak demand of 20,584 MW.

Chairman WAPDA Tariq Hamid at a Press conference

Chairman WAPDA Tariq Hamid at a Press conference early this year warned about the possible energy crisis and stressed the need for ‘quantum jump’ in power generation. The experts say it could only be possible through a mega project of hydropower generation; otherwise the gap between firm supply and peak demand will remain on the rise.

QUEST FOR ENERGY SECURITY

Energy has become an important prerequisite for the economic development of a country. On one hand it is used for the industrial and agricultural purposes and on the other hand it is required for domestic use of the citizens. Natural gas is the fastest growing primary energy source. Globally Energy Crisis in Pakistan 5 consumption of natural gas is projected to increase by nearly 70 percent between 2002 and 2025, with the most vigorous growth in demand expected among the emerging economies. Consumption of natural gas worldwide increases in the forecast by an average of 2.3 percent annually from 2002 to 2025, compared with projected annual growth rates of 1.9 percent for oil consumption and 2.0 percent for coal consumption. The electric power sector accounts for almost one-half of the total incremental growth in worldwide natural gas demand over the forecast period.

SOUTH ASIA IS IMPORTANT TO WORLD ENERGY MARKETS

South Asia is important to world energy markets because it contains 1.3 billion people and is experiencing rapid energy demand growth. After India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the next largest South Asian countries in these categories. Economic and population growth in South Asia have resulted in rapid increases in energy consumption in recent years. The major energy issues facing South Asian nations today are keeping up with rapidly rising energy demand. Agency for energy consumption has projected that by the year 2010 South Asian countries shall be consuming more than double the current levels of primary commercial energy.

THIRD LARGEST COUNTRY IN USE OF NATURAL GAS

Pakistan’s largest energy source is natural gas, with demand and imports growing rapidly. Currently, natural gas supplies 49 percent of Pakistan’s energy needs. According to the Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), as of January 1, 2005, Pakistan had 26.83 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves. Pakistan is looking to increase its gas production to support increasing consumption through Pipelines from Iran and Turkmenistan. Currently, Pakistan ranks third in the world for use of natural gas as a motor fuel, behind Brazil and Argentina. In addition, Pakistan hopes to make gas the fuel of choice for future electric power generation projects. Pakistan ambitiously seeks to increase oil production through new alliances with foreign companies. Pakistan’s net oil imports are projected to rise substantially in coming years as demand growth outpaces increases in production.

WASTE TO ENERGY IS NEEDED IN PAKISTAN

Electricity generation from Wastes

Recent increase in pollution due to the human and industrial waste has forced the man to devise ways to use it as an energy source. Energy from the waste is a recycling process known as incineration. The process of incineration is the combustion of waste material to generate electricity or heat at large. This trend of generating electricity is more popular in underdeveloped countries because they are facing the severe pollution hazards. Incineration reduces the waste and proves helpful in generating energy.

Recent studies have shown that a pack of solid waste contains approximately 548 watts of energy which is equal to one barrel oil. As the world is getting polluted day by day and important energy resources are scarce waste energy can be a useful technique in many ways. First of all the solid waste from the industry and household can be controlled. Secondly it can be used to generate electricity. Waste from energy process not only helps reduce waste but also is a cheap and affordable way of generate energy. Many developed countries in the world are selling their useful solid industrial waste to the third world countries. Energy from waste is utilized to charge electric batteries as well. The heaps of garbage in the world are spreading diseases. All the populated countries in the world are thinking of transferring their garbage waste to barren lands in the world by paying a little fee. It may help those countries but can be fatal for the people living near those lands.

Therefore the ultimate solution is to utilize this garbage to generate energy. Many forms of fuel can be generated through the recycle of waste material which includes biofuel, ethanol from wasted water, hydrogen from garbage and electricity. The various forms of waste can be utilized to overcome the energy crises as well. This can also prove to be a way of earning money. Waste energy power plant can provide electricity to many power projects, and one can actually sell electricity to hospitals, fountain homes and small enterprises. Energy waste power plants are also environment friendly. 

The use of sanitary landfill techniques has immensely dropped form 8000 to 1,767 in United States alone in the recent years. USA also produces 2500MW energy each year with the help of waste energy only. Many other countries in the world are making use of the waste energy.

Recently Sweden, Japan and India has implanted energy waste power plants at large. Underdeveloped countries like Pakistan have also started an energy waste power project with the cooperation of Apex civic authority. This power project has been started with a view to counter the severe energy crises in coming years. The increasing trend of urbanization and a change in the living style has led to the piles of waste in large cities. as mentioned earlier the waste to energy power plants can also create jobs for many. This energy can also be exported to poor countries. Waste energy can help us fight the extreme conditions of global warming due to industrial waste. Biggest benefit that this waste energy power plant gives is that we have a way to use alternative fuels to run cars and vehicles also. We can lower our dependence on basic fuel such as oil and gas. The rising prices and scarcity of oil and gas has diverted the attention of the world towards the use of waste energy projects.

Rawalpindi to have solid waste converter technology

RAWALPINDI, Jan 8: A private company was on Saturday given the task to generate fuel from garbage after buying it daily from the city government, with the hopes that Rawalpindi will have a cleaner look.

The Waste Management of Pakistan (WMP) was declared successful bidder to install the first solid waste converter technology in Rawalpindi, generating refuse-derived fuel (RDF) from municipal waste such as plastics and biodegradable items.

A high-powered committee, chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed, and comprising DCO Rawalpindi Imdadullah Bosal, representatives of Planning and Development (P&D), Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, and Urban Unit, Punjab (UUP) announced the WMP as successful company for installing RDF plant. Two companies- Maple Leaf Ltd and WMP- had submitted proposals before the committee.

Rawalpindi’s district administration will sell garbage to the company at Rs50 per ton. The total generation of waste in Rawalpindi city is around 800 tons daily, which means the district administration would earn Rs 40,000 a day once the company starts its operation.

Mohammad Usman, a consultant of UUP, told Dawn that the cost of RDF plant was Rs80 million and it can separate combustible wastes from non-combustible ones. “Importantly it can convert the entire garbage in the city into energy on daily basis with fertilizers as byproduct.” Officials said the RDF plant would help reduce random disposal of garbage in the city besides helping the municipal authorities in timely lifting the trash from streets.

“It would be a major source of revenue for the local government on daily basis. The more the district government lifts garbage, the more would be its value. The company would daily pay money to the municipal agencies at transfer stations,” Usman said. He said the garbage could be converted into gas, coal, fertilizer, fuel and electricity on the pattern of plants installed in Iran and other European countries.

The idea to install the RDF plant in Rawalpindi came after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Iranian city Mashad previous year where waste was converted into energy.

“The RDF is not only a source of energy and revenue but also helps maintain cleanliness in the city. The municipal authorities would now try to lift maximum quantity of garbage and the streets will remain clean round the clock,” an official said.

WIND ENERGY PROJECT

A Project funded by Ministry of Science & Technology

Wind Energy is clean & renewable source of energy and is also the world’s fastest growing energy resource. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) with the financial collaboration of Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), has completed its project entitled “Wind Power Potential Survey of Coastal Areas of Pakistan (Phase-I)” in June 2005.

Phase-II consisting of Wind Mapping of Northern Areas of Pakistan is own going since July 2005.The demand for energy has increased in tremendous proportions in the last few decades in Pakistan; the same is expected to increase further in the coming years. The primary sources of energy available in Pakistan are oil, natural gas, hydro and nuclear Power. At present oil accounts for approximately 45% of total commercial energy supply. The share of natural gas is 34% while that of hydel power remains roughly at 15%. The increase in cost of fossil fuel and the various environmental problems of large scale power generation have lead to increased appreciation of the potential of electricity generation from non-conventional sources. This has provided the planners and economists to find out other low cost energy resources.

Wind and Solar energies are the possible clean and low cost renewable resources available in the country. The potential, for the use of alternative technologies, has never been fully explored in Pakistan. Wind power provides opportunity to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel and at the same time expands the power supply capacity to remote locations where grid expansion is not practical.

Recently conducted survey of Wind Power Potential along coastal areas of the country by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), indicates that a potential exists for harvesting wind energy using currently available technologies, especially along Sindh coast.

Gharo, one of the sites in Sindh where the wind data have been recorded and studied by PMD, has been selected for using the measured wind data the annual gross energy production by an 18 MW wind farm consisting of thirty – 600 kW turbines will be 45 million kWh. Taking into account the wind turbine availability, net losses and wake effects in the wind farm the net annual energy production is estimated to 31 million kWh per year corresponding to a capacity factor of 28%.

The total investment will be Rs: 850 million and pay back period will be 7-8 years. The capital cost of wind power projects ranges Rs 4 to 5 crore per MW. This gives a levelised cost of wind energy generation in the range of Rs: 2.50 to 3.00 per kWh, taking into consideration the fiscal benefits extended by the government.

Wind Power Production

There are two terms to describe basic electricity production.

1.      Efficiency,

2.      Capacity factor.

Efficiency refers to how much useful energy (electricity, in this case) we can get from an energy source. A 100 percent energy efficient machine would change all the energy put into it into useful energy. It would not waste any energy. There is no such thing as a 100 percent energy efficient machine. Some energy is always lost or wasted when one form of energy is converted to another. The lost energy is usually in the form of heat, which dissipates into the air and cannot be used again economically. How efficient are wind machines? Wind machines are just as efficient as most other plants, such as coal plants. Wind machines convert 30-40 percent of the wind’s kinetic energy into electricity. A coal-fired power plant converts about 30-35 percent of the chemical energy in coal into usable electricity.

Capacity refers to the capability of a power plant to produce electricity. A power plant with a 100 percent capacity rating would run all day, every day at full power. There would be no down time for repairs or refueling, an impossible goal for any plant. Coal plants typically have a 75 percent capacity rating since they can run day or night, during any season of the year.

Wind power plants are different from power plants that burn fuel. Wind plants depend on the availability of wind, as well as the speed of the wind. Therefore, wind machines cannot operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A wind turbine at a typical wind farm operates 65-80 percent of the time, but usually at less than full capacity, because the wind speed is not at optimum levels. Therefore, its capacity factor is 30-35 percent. Economics also plays a large part in the capacity of wind machines. Winds machines can be built that have much higher capacity factors, but it is not economical to do so. The decision is based on electricity output per dollar of investment.

Capacity Factor, The annual energy output from a wind turbine is to look at the capacity factor for the turbine in its particular location. By capacity factor we mean its actual annual energy output divided by the theoretical maximum output, if the machine were running at its rated (maximum) power during all of the 8766 hours of the year.

Example:

If a 600 kW turbine produces 1.5 million kWh in a year

its capacity factor is = 1500000: (365.25 * 24 * 600) = 1500000: 5259600 = 0.285 = 28.5 per cent.

Capacity factors may theoretically vary from 0 to 100 per cent, but in practice they will usually range from 20 to 70 per cent, and mostly be around 25-30 percent.

Pakistan’s first Wind Power Plant

Pakistan has a considerable potential of wind energy in the coastal belt of Sindh, Balochistan and as well as in the desert areas of Punjab and Sindh. This renewable source of energy has however, not so far been utilized significantly.

So far, large wind turbines for power generation have not been installed in Pakistan. However, about 30 wind mills for pumping water have been installed for experimental purposes in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan.

In addition to the development activities in wind energy field for on grid electricity production, the wind energy is also being used for the electrification of remote off grid villages in the southern coastal areas of Pakistan. So far more than 18 villages have been electrified using micro wind turbines. Indigenous development of micro wind turbines has also commenced in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s first ever Wind Power Plant of commercial scale was inaugurated by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on 19th April 2009 at Jhimpir, District Thatta, Sindh.

PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear technology for peaceful purpose is traditionally divided into five parts:

Mining and processing of nuclear raw materials

Mining and processing of nuclear raw materials, the production of enriched uranium, the fabrication of nuclear fuel elements, the design construction and operation of nuclear reactors and fuel reprocessing.

Use in agriculture, medicine, industry, biology and hydrology

Apart from the use of nuclear energy to produce electricity from power reactors, it has also been used extensively in agriculture, medicine, industry, biology and hydrology. Radiation is finding widespread use, like to improve the present varieties of fruit, vegetables and crops. The radiations given out by atomic reactors are sometimes used for the treatment of diseases like cancer. These radiations are also used to kill dangerous germs and insects in foods and cultivated fields.

For the good of society

The peaceful application of nuclear energy is one of several factors contributing to the process usually described as automation, more precisely perhaps: the process of rationalization, or the fusion of science and production in industry. Scientists have started using it for the good of society.

Nuclear energy can be used for destruction as well as for construction

Nuclear energy can be used for destruction as well as for construction. The world needs nuclear power and will need it more in the years to come. We can see the nuclear applications in industry, nuclear radiations and radioactive materials are providing more accurate control in the production of better and cheaper things.

Produce electricity on a very large scale

Another thing where Pakistan is lacking behind is the electricity. Nuclear energy can help is the supply of cheap electricity. Small amounts of radioactive materials are used in these plants to produce electricity on a very large scale. It can help in easy generation and regeneration of water to produce electricity. The best use of the nuclear energy is in the field of medical sciences, the diseases of the thyroid have been classified with the use of radio iodine which the gland absorbs far more easily. Other countries are also making efforts to produce electricity at cheap rates from atomic power plants.

COAL TO GET ENERGY

Coal is the cheapest and the most common fuel used directly or indirectly to produce electricity and heat in the world today. Global coal consumption was about 6.7 billion tons in 2006 and is expected to increase 48% to 9.98 billion tons by 2030, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). China produced 2.38 billion tons in 2006. India produced about 447.3 million tons and Pakistan mined only about 8 million tons in 2006. 68.7% of China’s electricity comes from coal. The United States consumes about 14% of the world total, using 90% of it for generation of electricity. The U.S. coal-fired plants have over 300 GW of capacity.

Thar desert region in Pakistan is endowed with one of the largest coal reserves in the world. Discovered in early 1990s, the Thar coal has not yet been developed to produce usable energy. With the devastating increases in imported oil bill and the growing shortages of gas and electricity in the country, the coal development is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves. Coal contributes about 20% of the worldwide greenhouse gas emissions but it is the cheapest fuel available, according to Pew Center on Global Climate Change. It can provide usable energy at a cost of between $1 and $2 per MMBtu compared to $6 to $12 per MMBtu for oil and natural gas, and coal prices are relatively stable. Coal is inherently higher-polluting and more carbon-intensive than other energy alternatives. However, coal is so inexpensive that one can spend quite a bit on pollution control and still maintain coal’s competitive position.

It does seem that Pakistan is finally getting serious about utilizing its vast coal resources to produce electricity and gas. Talking recently with GeoTV’s Hamid Mir, Pepco Managing Director Tahir Basharat Cheema shared the following list of coal projects being launched:

1. The Sind Government has awarded a 1200 MW project to extract Thar coal and produce electricity to Engro Power.

2. A similar 1200 MW project is being undertaken by Pepco in Thar. The Pepco project also includes a 700 Km transmission line to connect Thar plants with the national grid.

3. An experimental project for underground coal gasification is being built by Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr. Mubarakmand to tap underground coal to produce 50 MW.

4. Another experimental 50 MW project using pressure coal gasification is planned by Pepco.

Thar Coal Power Project Pakistan, Gasification’s and Deposits

Today Pakistan is facing severe shortage of energy and electricity. Pakistan energy crisis and its solution is much debated issue in Pakistan and coal is important part of that debate. Pakistan is not using coal for the energy production and only 1% of energy is obtained from coal. Overall theglobal share of coal in power generation is 38%, the share of coal in energy production of China is 72% while 56% for India and more than 59% for US.

Coal is found in all four provinces of Pakistan and especially Sindh has huge reserves of coal located in Lakhra, Sondra, Thar and Badin. The Thar coal deposits alone estimated at 185 billion tones. Thar coal deposits were discovered in 1992 and it is irony that even after 18 years Pakistan fails to use this great source of energy production. Bureaucratic red tapism and centre-province tussles are main reasons of failure of Thar coal  Pakistan project.

The only viable project so far remains the coal-based 450 MW power plant in Lakhra. Lakhra coal Development Company has 44 mines fully developed.

Recently Dr. Mubarakmand who is appointed the member of Planning Commission of Pakistan launched the Underground Coal Gasification UCG project for the conversion of underground coal into gas without bringing it above ground. Coal gas will be used to generate electricity which is badly needed in country.

But Thar coal deposits will take another three to four years before they start generating electricity. With initial projects Pakistan can produce over 10,000 MW of electricity for 30 years and this capacity can be enhanced up to the 50,000 MW in future.

Critics of Thar coal project says that the quality of coal is not good and due to this inferior quality of Thar coal it is not possible to generate electricity. Their other objection is that soil of those areas is also not suitable and can cause many technical problems.

Thar coal project is of great importance for Pakistan. The electricity produced from the Thar coal project will cause only rupees 4 per unit and it will drastically improve the situation of electricity in country.

Although due to climate change now world is against the coal-based power generation but major world powers are using coal as major source of energy generation. Pakistan can still opt for coal-fired power plants because it is not a big polluter and its contributions to gas emissions are hardly one per cent. Coal reserves in Pakistan are huge and coal gasification in Pakistan in new phenomenon which can help Pakistan to come out of this energy crisis.

HYDRO POWER

The most frequent way using in Pakistan is the hydro power, as electricity is one of the major problem now a day for Pakistan, because most of the business and other factory work or local work is done with the help of electricity. So it’s a major source of energy for the Pakistan and hydro power is one of the important and frequently used method used by Pakistan for the production of the electricity.

Hydro power is generated by using electricity generators to extract energy from moving water. Historically people used the power of rivers for agriculture and wheat grinding. Today, rivers and streams are re-directed through hydro generators to produce energy, although there arepros and cons as far as local ecosystems are concerned. The articles on this page explore the use of water to generate electricity.

Solutions

Short term solution

Solution of current losses in the system is 24%

The methodology that will provide immediate relief is the conservation and judicious use of whatever little energy is being produced in the country. The current losses in the system are 24% of the total power generated. These include losses incurred during transmission and distribution as well as due to theft. Wasteful consumption such as businesses remaining open till late at night and unnecessarily brightly lit also contribute to losses. By reducing these to 10 % we can save up to 300 MW of energy. The government should enforce shutting down businesses and forbidding excessive and unnecessary lighting during late hours. Zoning should be enforced in cities.

Power switched off at scheduled hours in market zone

Market zones can have their power switched off (load shedding) at scheduled hours. As a benefit of service WAPDA employees are allowed free use of electrical energy for their domestic use. This facility has been grossly misused [Federal Bureau of Statistics 2002]. It is recommended every WAPDA household be given a raise in salary and the free electricity facility being withdrawn.

Improving Power generating capacity

It is an unfortunate fact that WAPDA and IPPs thermal power plants are running at an average plant factor of about 50 percent. This means they are producing only 50% of their installed capacity. They are not being used to deliver their full power. Internationally it is quite usual to have thermal power plants operating at 75 to 80 percent plant factor. Operating the power stations at higher plant factors demands better maintenance procedures there. It is felt that operating the plants at a higher plant factor will cause them to deliver 20 to 30 %more energy to the system. This will alleviate the present shortage to a significant extent. Improving the power plant factor of the existing plant is far more economical then setting up new power plant.

Medium Term solutions

Use of alternative energy sources

The policy makers of Pakistan talk about making dams and setting up nuclear power plants but do not understand the importance and benefits of alternate energy (renewable source of energy) sources such as solar, windmill energy, etc. These are cheap and quick methods for producing electricity. Pakistan is very blessed because abundant solar energy is available. Similarly wind energy is readily available in the coastal areas and throughout the winter months in Baluchistan. These energy sources if tapped can be of great help in reducing the current demand supply gap.

Wind Energy

America, Canada and China have invested large sums of money into research and development in order to obtain maximum energy from wind. Wind power is now the fastest-growing energy source worldwide. Total worldwide production of electrical energy from wind is around 30000MW. Germany, with over 12,000 megawatts of wind power at the end of 2002, leads the world in generating capacity. Spain and the United States, at 4,800 and 4,700 megawatts, are second and third. Many predict that, with the development of more efficient wind turbines, wind energy will provide an increasingly large proportion of electrical production in the U.S. Tiny Denmark is fourth with 2,900 megawatts, and India is fifth with 1,700 megawatts.

Although a score of countries now generate electricity from wind, a second wave of major players is coming onto the field, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, and China. However, land clearing for vast “wind farms” may cause concern to environmentalists.

Solar Energy

Pakistan has high potential of renewable energy sources. A very large part of the rural population does not have the facility of electricity because they are either too remote or it is found too expensive to connect their villages to the national grid station. Pakistan being in the sunny belt is ideally located to take advantage of solar energy. This energy sources is widely distributed and abundantly available in the country. During last 15 years Pakistan has shown quite encouraging progress in the use of photovoltaic cells.

Examples of currently using electric power

Currently electrical power derived from solar energy is being used is being used in some public parks. These include Khalid bin Waleed Park in Peshawar and the Race Course Park in Rawalpindi. The Public Health department has installed solar water pump for drinking purposes in some parts of the country. Both public and private sector are playing their role in up grading of photovoltaic system in the country. If this technology is used in large scale commercial production of electricity the problem of energy shortage can be substantially reduced.

Long term solution:

Hydro-electric power potential

Pakistan has a huge potential to produce electric power from hydro-electric power plants. In table 5 presents a view of electric power generation with power plants whose feasibility study has been completed or is under process. Construction of all these plants gives almost 55,000 MW. This easily meets the electrical energy requirement of Pakistan for next 20-25 years.

Coal Potential in Pakistan

Pakistan has the 5th largest coal reserve in the World, amounting to approximately 185.175 billion Tones. Thar has largest reserve in the country that is approximately

75.5 billion Tones. Pakistan can generate more than 100,000 MW of electricity for next 30 years if it uses all coal available to it. At present Pakistan generates only 0.79% of its total electricity from coal. Coal contributes approximately 39% of the total global primary energy demand. Share of coal in total electricity produced in different countries is

PAKISTAN 0.79%

USA 56%

UK 58%

China 81%

This easily meets the electrical energy requirement of Pakistan for next 20-25 years.