I do not know why the PPP-led government is keen on installing 10 nuclear power plants to cover the energy needs of Pakistan. Nuclear power plants are more dangerous then coal power plants. Nuclear power plants have very long decommissioning time, and generate radiated waste that has to be stored underground for decades and centuries. For example the Vandellos-1 480MW nuclear reactor in Spain had a production life of 18 years, but it will take more then 40 years and billions of dollars to decommission the plant.
On the other hand, if the government of Pakistan installs coal power plants and develops local coal production, we can produce cheap energy for decades. All developed countries in the world rely on coal power plants for their energy needs. Coal power plants can produce environmental damage, but with cheaper energy cost some of the taxes on these plants should be utilised for reforestation efforts in Pakistan, the country which had one of the largest forest covers in South East Asia, has less than five percent forest cover these days. Using latest techniques of forest management and drip irrigation large areas of land can be converted into forests helping reduce the effects of the coal power plants.
Also by converting the current oil/gas based thermal power plants into coal powered plants, we can help reduce the cost of electricity production and our dependence on imported oil. As coal power plant technology is very common and very cheap. With the development of a fast moving coal supply chain across Pakistan and easy availability of coal in markets across Pakistan, many private investors will start investing industries related to coal. Coal can be burned to produce ‘Syn-Gas’, which can then be processed into more then 300 different products including, methanol, aspirin, paracetamol, dyes, insecticides, fertilisers, explosives, synthetic fibers, rubber, finger polish, ammonia etc. It will create new industries, new jobs and new export income for Pakistan.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar
