United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has replaced 1200 inefficient irrigation pumps throughout Pakistan in an effort to reduce energy use and agriculture production costs under Tubewell Efficiency Improvement Program (TWEIP). $18.5 million worth programme offers a 50 per cent subsidy to farmers to replace their outdated irrigation pumps with more energy efficient irrigation pumps that would reduce demand by 45 MW, and save 115.5 GWh of electricity per year.
While giving briefing to media men upon celebration of replacement of the first 1200 inefficient pumps, USAID representative John Pullinger said USAID Tubewell Efficiency Improvement Program (TWEIP) was one of six activities under U.S. Signature Energy Program that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced in October 2009 to help alleviate Pakistan’s severe power supply shortfall. He said USAID has started its programme in Pakistan last year in December from a pilot project in Multan. USAID TWEIP programme has planned to replace roughly 7,000 tubewells in coming years. He informed that currently tube wells were running on 36 per cent efficiency which will be increased to 60 per cent. USAID Mission Director Andrew Sisson said US wants to support efforts by government and people of Pakistan to build a stronger, more prosperous future for this country. Much like education fuels the minds of the people and enables them to build a better future, energy is essential to the economic growth of the nation he added.
He said United States energy sector assistance is being delivered by his organisation, US Agency for International Development, or USAID, which is working with various Pakistani organisations on several short and long-term projects. He said recognising urgent need of energy sector solutions US is funding Satpara, Gomal Zam, Tarbela, Guddu, Jamshoro and Muzaffargharh thermal and hydropower projects that would restore around 900MW power generation capacity by early 2013.
He went on to say that USAID was also working with ministry of water and power, as well as power distribution companies to reduce energy transmission losses, increase revenue, and improve overall management of the energy system. We believe that these changes will contribute to long-term sustainability of Pakistan’s energy sector. Electricity used for agriculture is estimated as 16 per cent of total consumption in the country. It is produced at a rate of Rs15.50 per megawatt which has been provided to farmers at Rs5 per megawatt. Pakistan has major power crises, with a shortfall of almost 5000 MW (increasing), which has led to blackouts that disrupt commerce, industry, and agriculture. As a result, annual GDP growth has declined from 8 per cent to 2.4 per cent.
20.9 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP relies heavily on agriculture. It is the world’s fourth largest user of ground water for irrigation in terms of area underground water irrigation. Agriculture sector is the third largest consumer of energy in Pakistan and Tubewell Pump Sets are a major component of peak demand.
115.5 GWh to be saved under USAID programme
