ENERGY CRISIS IN PAKISTAN
1. INTRODUCTION
Throughout the world electricity is the most widely used and desirable form
of energy. It is a basic requirement for economic development and for an
adequate standard of living. As a country’s population grows and its economy
expands its demand for electrical energy multiplies. If this demand is not met
adequately a shortage in supply occurs. This
shortage can assume crisis proportions.
Pakistan has been facing an unprecedented energy crisis since the last
several years. The problem becomes severe during the summers. Large numbers of
users have to be disconnected from the energy supply system to prevent
overloading the generating stations (load shedding). On occasions the urban
dwellers had to suffer load shedding of 8-10 hours everyday. During the same
time rural consumers suffered it for up to 20 hours at a stretch.
Almost two years ago the Chairman Water and Power Authority (WAPDA)
admitted that his organization could not meet the current demand for
electricity. It is surprising such a senior person took so long to discover
this problem. The government talked about Pakistan’s supposedly booming economy
but failed to understand the need for meeting the energy needs of the boom.
General Musharraf (R) (ex-President) after becoming Chief Executive used to
talk about building dams especially Kalabagh Dam.Very few power plants have
since been set up. The present energy crisis is totally due to lack of
forecasting and planning.
Any power system has 3 major parts:
1. Generation system
2. Transmission system
3. Distribution system
Generally speaking the major technical causes of the shortfall in the
availability of electrical energy in Pakistan are:
• Insufficient installed
generating capacity.
• Transmission system unable to
transmit the greater load now imposed upon it.
• Grid Stations and related
equipment unable to carry the load imposed.
• Distribution System was built
to carry a smaller power and hence unable to cater to existing demands [Gelling
at el 1988].
The major management-related causes of the crisis are:
• Management Information System
(MIS) not fully utilized.
• Failure to forecast and plan
for the future.
• Failure to set up new generating stations in time.
• No new
Transmission/Distribution networks & grid stations setup.
• Unexpectedly rapid growth of
load.
2. Present Situation of Crisis
A careful examination clearly indicates that although Pakistan’s installed
generating capacity will increase, the shortfall will continue to exist
[Federal Bureau of Statistics 1998]. The government must take steps to overcome
this situation.
3.1. Short term solution
3.1.1 Line losses control
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. 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 be withdrawn.
3.1.2 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 plants.
3.2 Medium Term solutions
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.
3.2.1 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 [US Department of Energy 2002].
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.
3.2.2 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. 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.
3.3. Long term solution
3.3.1 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
[WAPDA Annual report 2007-08]. 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%
3.3.2 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.
From the table 4, 5 we can see that hydro-electric power has a great
potential. Some details of these projects are given in table 4,5.These plants
can give low cost electricity. As they are run of river plants, they can be
easily installed with minimum cost and in short time.
Conclusion
The policy makers of Pakistan do 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
Tidal, Wave, and Geothermal energy, etc. They are cheap and quick methods for
producing electricity. Pakistan is a very blessed country because solar energy
is available in most cities all year round. Similarly wind energy is readily
available in the coastal areas and in interior Baluchistan during winter. These
energy sources if tapped can be of great help in reducing the current demand
supply gap. The possibility of using coal and hydro-electric run of river
plants must also be considered seriously for the long term.
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