How can Pakistan’s energy crisis be solved?

An energy crisis is any great shortfall (or price rise) in the supply of energy resources to an economy. It usually refers to the shortage of oil and additionally to electricity or other natural resources.

Pakistan is in the grip of a serious energy crisis that is affecting all sectors of the economy and the various segments of the society. There has been an enormous increase in the demand of energy in Pakistan as a result of industrial development and population growth, as compared to increase in energy production. The number of energy consumers has increased to 12.5 million: household 46 per cent, industry 28 per cent, agriculture 12 per cent, bulk supply nine per cent and commercial five per cent. For faster economic growth, Pakistan needs more generation. Supply of energy is, therefore, far less than actual demand, resultantly crisis has emerged. Energy crisis in Pakistan started in 2007 and in 2008 it took a serious turn. During 2009-10, energy supply and per capita availability of energy witnessed a decline of 0.64 per cent and 3.09 per cent respectively in comparison to previous year. Now the challenge is how to stop this energy crisis from getting worse. In my views solution lies in collective national effort.

To get rid off energy crisis first step to be taken in my views is the change of attitude and lifestyle. For instance we should not leave lights and other home appliances ON when they are not being used. Similarly, many businesses such as shops dealing in cloth and garments, jewellery, cosmetics, home appliances and electronics are usually extravagantly lit. It is commonly observed that shops that could do with two or three 40-watt tube lights to meet the desired level of luminance use as many as 15 to 20 tubes. Not only does this increase power consumption, it also generates heat and makes the environment uncomfortable. Likewise, a typical AC consumes far more electricity in one hour than a fan does over 24 hours. Hence air conditioning should not be allowed except for sensitive applications such as hospitals and research centres.

Secondly, Pakistan is rich in all sorts of resources but our government does not take any step to exploit them, because then nothing would be left for their corruption if they invest money to exploit these resources, resultantly crisis are emerged. For instance, Pakistan is having rich resources of energy in hydel power; however, only 34% of the total electricity generation is coming from this power. Currently, we are having 6555 MW against the potential of 41000 to 45000 MW. Similarly, Pakistan has the potential of wind energy ranging from 10000 Mw to 50000 Mw, yet power generation through wind is at the initial stages and currently 6 Mw has been installed shortly. Likewise, Pakistan has the potential of more than 100,000 Mw from solar energy, but we are having just few solar power plants. Same is the case with thermal power, tidal power, nuclear power and biomass productions etc. In my views if the government exploit all these resources then I am sure that Pakistan cant be the victim of energy crisis in the next 200 years.

Thirdly, we have great traffic on our roads now a days, even one cannot cross the road. If on main roads we install wind mills, they will produce great amount of electricity. I have another idea: We can use a train. Only engine takes power to run the train. All the other bogies are just loads. If we install some wind mills on the roof of these bogies, it will produce a great amount of electricity. These are just two simple methods to solve the energy crisis in Pakistan.

Other simple solutions in my mind are:

• 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.
• Developing new energy resources.
• Tapping indigenous resources (Thar coal).
• Using renewable resources (water) by constructing new dams and hydro power plants.

In addition to the above mentioned measures, there is no need to spend millions of rupees on the most expensive, Benazir Income Support Programme. Funds should be diverted from this useless project and take short-term and long-term measures, if we want to develop our industries and control unemployment. Sasti Roti is also another useless project of the Punjab government and it is too contributing its share in wasting the national wealth. Without taking drastic steps, there are no chances of overcoming the energy crisis. If load shedding is still unavoidable despite all these measures, WAPDA/KESC should organize the cuts in a sensible way to cause minimum discomfort. Load shedding schedules should be properly planned and announced.

In the end I would simply say that I am a simple student, I have no education about electrical engineering but even then I can think of such valuable methods of energy productions to solve the energy crisis of Pakistan then why can’t the responsible do anything.