ECINP (Crisis to crisis Break the Chain)
It gives me intense pleasure to present an Assignment to search about something
that’s anything good and informative. But to search like that burning issue in
the very of the days we live. Electricity and Crisis is the Most Common nowadays
everyone is very sad about the present time of the Crisis of Electricity in
Pakistan. If we unite and do our effort to make survive everything untidily or
unanimously. We hope and Pray for our Country that Insha’Allah One day we will
get rid of it.
I am grateful to my Teacher Professor Attaa’Ur’Rahman Sahib. Who give me such a
chance to write a few words or we can say a little bit discussion about the
Electricity and the Crisis of Electricity In Pakistan.
Energy Crisis In Pakistan
&
Their Solution
Introduction:
Energy is considered to be life line of any economy and most vital instrument of
socioeconomic development of a country. Energy is pivotal in running machinery
in factories and industrial units, for lighting our cities and powering our
vehicles etc.
There has been an enormous increase in the demand of energy as a result of
industrial development and population growth, in comparison to enhancement in
energy production. Supply of energy is, therefore, far less than the actual
demand, resultantly crisis has emerged. An energy crisis can be defined as any
great bottleneck (or price rise) in the supply of energy resources to an
economy.
Pakistan’s Energy Sector:
Pakistan’s energy infrastructure is not well developed, rather it is considered
to be underdeveloped and poorly managed. Currently the country is facing severe
energy crisis. Despite of strong economic growth and rising energy demand during
past decade, no serious efforts have been made to install new capacity of
generation. Moreover, rapid demand growth, transmission losses due to outdated
infrastructure, power theft, and seasonal reductions in the availability of
hydropower have worsened the situation. Consequently, the demand exceeds supply
and hence load-shedding is a common phenomenon through power shutdown.
Energy Supply:
During 2009-10, Energy supply and per capita availability of energy witnessed a
decline of 0.64 % and 3.09 % respectively in comparison to previous year.
Pakistan needs around 15,000 to 20000 MW electricity per day, however, currently
it is able to produce about 11,500 MW per day hence there is a shortfall of
about 4000 to 9000 MW per day. This shortage is badly hampering the economic
growth of the country.
Energy Consumption:
Pakistan’s energy consumption is met by mix of gas, oil, electricity, coal and
LPG sources with different level of shares. Share of gas consumption stood at
43.7 %, followed by oil 29.0 percent, electricity 15.3 percent, coal 10.4
percent and LPG 1.5 percent.
Sources of Energy in Pakistan:
Non-renewable resources (Fossil fuels): [Limited – Expensive]
Non renewable resources are primarily fossil fuels emanating from
remains/decomposition of animals and plants deposited deep into the earth crust
and converted into oil and gas. These resources cannot be replenished. There are
three main types of fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG).
Petroleum products:
In 2009-10, consumption of petroleum products was 29% of total share of energy.
Majority of crude oil is imported from gulf countries to meet the demand. Power,
industry and transport sectors consume higher quantity of petroleum followed by
agriculture and households. Petroleum is also used in generation of electricity,
which counts 64 percent of total electricity generation (34 coming from hydro
generation). Balance recoverable reserves of crude oil in country have been
estimated at 303.63 million barrels and we are extracting approximately 24
million crude oil annually, meaning if we do not explore new wells, we will
exhaust our current crude oil reserves in 12-13 years.
Natural Gas:
Importance of natural gas is increasing rapidly. Average production of natural
gas is 4,048.76 million cubic feet per day as against 3,986.53 million during
corresponding last year, showing an increase of 1.56 percent. Natural gas is
used in general industry to prepare consumer items, to produce cement, for
manufacturing fertilizers and to generate electricity. In form of CNG, it is
used in transport sector. Share of natural gas in energy consumption is 43.7
percent. Due to price differential between CNG and Petrol, vehicles are using
converted to CNG and approximately 2.0 million vehicles are using CNG and
currently Pakistan is the largest CNG user country in the world. Liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) contributes around 0.7 percent to total energy supply in
country and is being imported to stop deforestation in hilly areas.
Coal:
Pakistan has coal reserves estimated at over 185 billion tones, including 175
billion tones identified at Thar coalfields. Coal is primarily being used in
brick kiln and cement industries and approximately 67 percent coal is imported
because indigenous coal is not considered of good quality.
Guddu plant is largest plant thermal operated plant with a capacity of 1,650 MW,
while two largest Independent Power Plants (IPPs) in Pakistan are Kot Addu
(1,600 MW) and Hubb River (1,300 MW).
Renewable Resources : (Unlimited – sustainable – clean)
Renewable energy resources are those, which are naturally replenished and comes
from resources such as water, sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat.
Hydro power:
Hydro power is generated by using electricity generators to extract energy from
moving water. Pakistan is having rich resource of energy in Hydal Power;
however, only 34 % of total electricity generation is coming from hydro power.
Currently we are having 6555 MW against the potential of 41000 to 45000 MW.
Current Hydropower stations:
1. Tarbella Dam: 3,478 MW
2. Ghazi Brotha: 1450 MW
3. Mangla 1,000 MW
4. Warsak 240 MW
5. Chashma 184 MW
Potential Hydropower stations:
1. Diamer-Bhasha Dam 4500 MW
2. Munda Dam – Swat river in Mohamand Agency 740 MW
3. Kalabagh Dam 2400-3600 MW
4. Bunji Dam 5400 MW
5. Dasu Dam 3800 MW
Alternative Sources of Energy :
Wind:
Wind power harnesses the power of the wind to propel the blades of wind
turbines. These turbines cause the rotation of magnets, which creates
electricity. Though Pakistan has potentials of wind energy ranging from 10000 MW
to 50000 MW, yet power generation through wind is in initial stages in Pakistan
and currently 06 MW has been installed in first phase in Jhampir through a
Turkish company and 50 MW will be installed shortly. More wind power plants will
be built in Jhampir, Gharo, Keti Bandar and Bin Qasim Karachi.
Solar:
Solar power involves using solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity,
using sunlight hitting solar thermal panels to convert sunlight to heat water or
air. Pakistan has potential of more than 100,000 MW from solar energy. Building
of solar power plants is underway in Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan.
However, private vendors are importing panels / solar water heaters for
consumption in the market. Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) is
working for 20,000 solar water heaters in Gilgit Baltistan. Mobile companies
have been asked by the government to shift supply of energy to their
transmission towers from petroleum to solar energy panels.
Agricultural biomass /biodiesel:
Biomass production involves using garbage or other renewable resources such as
sugarcane, corn or other vegetation to generate electricity. When garbage
decomposes, methane is produced and captured in pipes and later burned to
produce electricity. Vegetation and wood can be burned directly to generate
energy, like fossil fuels, or processed to form alcohols. Brazil has one of the
largest renewable energy programs from biomass/biodiesel in the world, followed
by USA. Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) of Pakistan has planned to
generate 10 MW of electricity from municipal waste in Karachi followed by
similar projects in twenty cities of country.
Tidal:
Tidal power can be extracted from Moon-gravity-powered tides by locating a water
turbine in a tidal current. The turbine can turn an electrical generator, or a
gas compressor, that can then store energy until needed. Coastal tides are a
source of clean, free, renewable, and sustainable energy.
Plans are underway in Pakistan to harness tidal energy; however, no
implementation has been made so far.
Nuclear:
Nuclear power stations use nuclear fission reaction to generate energy by the
reaction of uranium inside a nuclear reactor. Pakistan has a small nuclear power
program, with 425 MW capacity, but there are plans to increase this capacity
substantially.
Since Pakistan is outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is excluded
from trade in nuclear plant or materials, which hinders its development of civil
nuclear energy. Remaining issues in development of nuclear energy are enrichment
of uranium from U235 to U238, controlling chain reaction and dumping of solid
waste.
Pakistan Nuclear Power Reactors
Reactor Type MW Construction started Commercial operation
Karachi PHWR 125 1966 1972
Chashma 1 PWR 300 1993 2000
Chashma 2 PWR 300 2005 expected 2011
Total 425 MW
Pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) - Canadian based reactors
Pressurized water reactor (PWR) – Chinese based reactors
4. Causes of Energy Crisis : Pakistan’s energy crisis traces its roots to
following distinct causes :
• Growing Energy Demand
Over the years there is greater need of energy because of:
• Increase in population,
• Enhancement in lifestyle
• Industrial and agricultural growth
• Greater transportation needs
• Lack of proactive and integrated planning for production of energy:
Pakistan has had wider potentials to tap energy, however, due to lack of any
integrated/proactive planning, very less number of power producing plant were
installed to meet futuristic demands. Resultantly, over the years, the gap
between energy demand and supply drastically grew and now against demand of
20000 MW, we are having around 11500 MW.
• Imbalanced energy energy mix
Energy mix in Pakistan is quite imbalance in comparison to other countries, with
greater reliance on non-renewable resources of gas (43.7 %) and oil (29 % -
majority of which is imported). Prices of petroleum products/crude oil fluctuate
and in current Afro-Arab political crisis, the oil prices are likely to increase
manifold affecting oil prices in Pakistan.
A rational energy mix planning ought to be developed giving greater dependency
to renewable (hydel power), indigenous (coal) and alternative energy resources
(wind and solar energy). Nuclear energy can
• Non-utilization of enormous indigenous energy resources:
Thar Coal:
Pakistan is having one of the largest coal fields in Thar, having reserves of
more than 175 billion tones, which exceeds equivalent oil reserves of Saudi
Arabia, Iran etc.
In addition to power generation, this coal can be used for chemical and
fertilizer production.
Moreover, employment provided to workforce can be instrumental in increasing
GDP and economic prosperity to many families.
Hydal power generation :
Pakistan has potential of hydro resources to generate 41000 to 45000 MW,
however, only 6555 MW is currently being generated by this important renewable
resource.
Four large hydro power dams namely Kalabagh 3600 MW, Bhasha 4500 MW, Bunji
5400 MW and Dasu 3800 MW can be constructed to generate hydro electricity.
Similarly, many small to medium hydro plants can be installed on rivers and
canals etc.
5. Consequences of Energy Crisis :
i). Economic Factors: Energy is pivotal for running all other resources and
crisis of energy directly influences all other sectors of the economy. The
economic progress is hampered by decline in agricultural productivity as well as
by halting in operations of industries. One important factor of lower GDP and
inflation of commodity prices in recent years is attributed to shortfalls in
energy supply.
ii). Agriculture Sector: Agricultural productivity of Pakistan is decreasing due
to provision of energy for running tube wells, agricultural machinery and
production of fertilizers and pesticides. Thus higher energy means higher
agricultural productivity.
iii). Industrial Sector: Nearly all Industrial units are run with the energy and
breakage in energy supply is having dire consequences on industrial growth. As a
result of decline in energy supply, industrial units are not only being opened,
but also the existing industrial units are gradually closing.
iv). Unemployment: By closure of industrial units and less agricultural
productivity, new employment opportunities ceased to exist and already employed
manpower is shredded by the employers to increase their profit ratios. Thus
energy crisis contributes towards unemployment.
v). Social Issues: This factor is primarily related to the domestic usage of
energy (cooking, heating and water provision). Load shedding cause unrest and
frustration amongst the people and results in agitation against the government.
vi). Poverty: Declination in economic growth, lower agricultural productivity,
unemployment and shackling industrial growth result in increasing poverty.
Currently, around forty percent of our population is living beyond poverty line
and this ratio is increasing day by day. Ample control of energy crisis will
surely yield in curbing the menace of poverty.
6. Conclusion:
Energy Crisis has, moreover less, plagued all sectors of Pakistan’s machinery
ranging from economy to industry, agriculture to social life, inflation to
poverty and it is hampering national progress in a drastic manner. Nonetheless,
menace of energy crisis can be overwhelmed by government through making
effective policies and its proactive implementation. Simultaneously, it is the
responsibility of us, the people of Pakistan, to utilize the available energy
astutely and wisely to play our due role for progress of the country.
7. Recommendations/Solutions of Energy Crisis:
Energy crisis can be curtailed by:
i) Reducing unnecessary energy use:
Usage of electricity saving devices
Awareness campaign for energy saving
Reduction in unnecessary transportations by developing good public transport
systems and
strengthening Pakistan railways
Reduction in industrial uses with installation of effective equipment/ energy
efficient and with
Increasing efficiency of workforce (cost effective)
Decreasing reliance on rental power projects, because instead of doing any
good, they are
Increasing prices of electricity.
Decreasing line losses by using efficient power transmission cables
ii). Developing new energy resources:
Tapping indigenous resources (Thar coal)
Using renewable resources (water) by constructing new dams and hydro power
plants
Import of natural gas by IPI (Iran Pakistan India) and TAPI (Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) pipelines
Import of electricity from Tajikistan -through Pak Afghan Tajikistan
transmission- and Iran (approximately 1000 MW from each of them) pipelines
iii). Utilizing alternative energy resources:
Wind power
Biodiesel /Biomass
Solar
Tidal
Enhancing civilian nuclear capacity
8. References:
Economic Survey of Pakistan 2009-10
Fact File : Energy Crisis in Pakistan June 2008 – Islamabad Policy Research
Institute (IPRI)
Energy Demand in Pakistan: A Disaggregate Analysis by Muhammad Arshad Khan,
Senor Research Economist & Usman Ahmed, Staff Economist, Pakistan Institute of
Development Economics, Islamabad