Pakistan’s energy crisis

What options are we left with?

Electric power is easy to control and handle, easy to transmit and pollution free which accounts for its well-deserved fame. Conventionally, the electric power demand in Pakistan is met by the production of electricity through limited natural resources. Due to its huge applications and requirements the demand and supplies are all poles apart. With the passage of time as the requirement increases the production capacity must also be increased, staying within the limited resources for the economic progress.

Currently in Pakistan, the base load is served by oil (imported from other countries) and gas. To meet the demand through economic procedure of power generation the electricity must be generated through relatively cheaper and currently available resources. Along with the base load power generation, the present resources (other than conventional fuels) and renewable sources must also be used as filler to aid meet the demand-supply ratios. Resources such as Thar coal, nuclear, shale oil and gas and other renewable sources can be used for economic production of energy.

Located in Thar desert, Tharparkar district, Sindh, the deposits are ranked as the sixth largest coal reserves in the world. The Thar field comprises about 175 billion tons of lignite coal, with 1-1.5 per cent SO2 contents which are relatively less as compared to other countries generating electricity from coal having up to 2.5 per cent SO2 contents (less pollution). Thar coal has a potential of 100,000 MW capable of meeting the country’s energy requirement for centuries. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, along with the former President Asif Ali Zardari, recently launched a US$1.6 billion power generation project at Thar to help fulfill the country’s energy requirements.

The Thar field comprises about 175 billion tons of lignite coal, with 1-1.5 per cent SO2 contents which are relatively less as compared to other countries generating electricity from coal having up to 2.5 per cent SO2 contents (less pollution).

Pakistan is the 7th Nuclear power of the world and can thus utilise this additional parameter to support the National Grid and to help cut down the short fall. Nuclear power in Pakistan is fed by three power stations. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the scientific and nuclear agency is solely responsible for these power plants. Currently CHASHNUPP-I and II and KANUPP-I are producing about 3.6 per cent of the total energy produced. CHASHNUPP-III and IV, expected to be complete by 2016 will be the last of their kinds ie 300 MW’s nuclear power plants. As the Chairman of PAEC Dr.Ansar Parvez remarked:

With more than 55 reactor years of successful operation experience to its credit, PAEC can confidently move from technology acquisition status to actually contributing sizeable electrical energy to the system.

In this regard, PAEC has taken steps for contributing energy to the grid by initiating three large sized power projects of 1100 MW each ie KANUPP-II and III and CHASHNUPP-V.

The shale oil and gas, an unconventional and technically different resource, deposits have been found in Pakistan in abundance, about 51 trillion cubic feet (TCF) which are the 9th largest in the world. The development of energy from shale resources is a long term extremely beneficial project producing economic advantages especially in the creation of jobs during exploration and production. “Life-line for Pakistan”, the shale resources have the potential of transforming the country’s economy by generating large scale economic activity across the country. The generation of shale electricity is much cheaper than that produced by conventional fossil fuels and also produces relatively cleaner electricity (less pollution). The project however requires a handsome capital cost for which government interest is much required.

Pakistan has the 5th largest water system. The production of electricity from running water is termed as Hydro-Electricity. Globally 16 per cent of the electric energy is produced by this process. This is a relatively cheaper method for production of electricity making it efficient and competitive. This requires relative heights and flow of water which turns the turbine and produce’s electricity. There are five major hydro-power projects in Pakistan; namely, Tarbela (3478 MW), Mangla (1000 MW), Warsak (240 MW), Chashma (187 MW) and Ghazi Brotha (1450 MW). Along with these large projects, several small hydel schemes can also be combined to aid a few more to the grid.

Pakistan is blessed with a wind corridor ranging from general areas of Sindh (Jhimpir, Gharo, Keti Badan, Bin Qasim, etc) to the coastal areas of Baluchistan having an excellent wind speed of about 7.3 – 7.8 m/s comprising of a potential of 50,000 MW’s of energy. The government of Pakistan plans to achieve a 2500 MW mark up to 2015 using local wind potential. The first wind energy power plant was inaugurated at Jhimpir, Sindh in December 2012. The plant has a potential of 50 MW’s and is considered as the first step towards a chain of wind power projects. The wind power plants have a life of 20 years which can be easily extended by adequate maintenance.

With more than 55 reactor years of successful operation experience to its credit, PAEC can confidently move from technology acquisition status to actually contributing sizeable electrical energy to the system.

Sun provides both heat and light and supports life on earth. Amount of energy stored in earth’s reserves of coal, oil and natural gas is just equivalent to energy from 20 days of sunshine. Yet it account only for one per cent of total global energy. Pakistan is ideally located in the sunbelt to take advantage of solar energy. This energy source is widely distributed and abundantly available in the country. The province of Baluchistan is particularly rich in solar energy having highest annual mean sun shine duration in the world. The development and adaptation of solar energy technology, that is, to use both light and heat energy of sun to produce electricity can help reduce the short fall and meet the demands.

The coast line of Pakistan is about 800 km whose tidal current can be effectively used for the production of electric power. According to the statistics 1 m/s speed of tidal current is equivalent to 15 m/s of wind speed. So along with wind potential the tidal current can also be used to produce cheap electricity and aid the grid a few more megawatts.

The renewable energy sources are preferred over the conventional fuels as they produce clean electricity. The renewable sources are sustainable and thus can’t run out. Consequently, they are variable sources of power and often rely on weather and climatic conditions.

The dependence on imported oil can be decreased and minimised by using energy from renewable and other sources of energy which were present and never exploited before. This can immensely benefit the economy as Pakistan is still relying on oil imported from other countries, when other countries are using coal to serve the purpose.

If the sources mentioned above are exploited properly and to their fullest, Pakistan has got the potential of generating electricity much greater than its requirements. Serious efforts and sincere governance and management are required to achieve the goal.

I would like to end with a statement from Karachi Electric:

“Save today, for tomorrow!”

It’s better to save a megawatt, rather than to produce an additional megawatt.