Before The Lights Go Out!

“Conquering the Power Crises before it conquers us”

If the private sector can handle education, health, public transport, why cannot it handle power generation and distribution? There is no other option now to overcome the shortage and provide relief to the people from load shedding except changing the status quo of power sector. In order to get rid of this energy crisis, Pakistan has to adopt public-private partnership.

Introducing energy democracy in Pakistan can ensure efficiency, investment, and reduced tariffs to resolve energy crisis. Pakistan can conduct participatory forms of decision-making enabling people to be involved in the electricity production. The culture of energy democracy could not be achieved without public ownership on generation and distribution of energy.

Privatization and liberalization of telecommunication and banking sectors in Pakistan have produced highly beneficial results for the country as it greatly improved service delivery, gave new choices to the end consumers, brought down prices, created plenty of jobs and generated sufficient tax revenue for the government. Privatization of energy sector would also lead to more efficient and reliable service delivery and free up government resources to be spent on health and education. Private sector delivers through competition because businesses utilize latest technology, compete with each other and in this process value is passed on to the consumer.

If Pakistan is to develop at a faster pace to attain a seven to eight per cent GDP growth, then it is imperative to address its energy needs. Pakistan is currently short by between 5,000 to 7,000 MW and if a major plan of action is not put into place now, the shortage is likely to be around 20,000 MW within 10 years, therefore like many developed countries, Pakistan should establish energy suppliers owned by the public on a local, regional and co-operative basis. It is a fact that the companies which are not wholly driven by profit will abstain from trickery, attract investment, infuse confidence, offer fair and simple energy tariffs and would further help those least able to pay bills and reinvest major portion of profits back into the local communities.

The formation of Electricity producing Consortiums would prove to be an effective policy as private sector would overcome the energy deficit by focusing and innovating alternative energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, coal etc. and on the other hand government would be relieved to focus on some huge hydel projects such as Kaala Bagh Dam, Dasu Dam, Diamer Bhasha Dam whose completion is hampered due to some social and economic constrains, based on the mutual benefit and confidence economic stability would be ensured.

A possible home-grown, energy solution, based on wind and solar energy, can be used. Many countries in the world have implemented alternative energy programs. Spain is already producing 73 per cent of its power needs from wind and solar energy. Though technology is still evolving for solar energy, a more immediate solution is wind energy. The Karachi to Gwadar coastline has enormous potential for generating wind energy. Wind towers can generate between 7,000 to 10,000 MW of electricity. There will be certain challenges to accomplish this, but all the solutions are within Pakistan’s grasp and we need not depend on foreign assistance.

The main challenges are production and availability of wind turbines, safety and security of turbines, transmission lines to feed the national grid, capital cost of the project and long-term maintainability of the project. India has started producing wind turbines domestically. It is not rocket science and Pakistani scientists can master this technology if mandated by the government. If our scientists can produce a nuclear weapon, they can produce wind turbines. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission should be entrusted to design and build these turbines. The facilities at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, Heavy Mechanical Complex and Karachi Shipyard can also be used. Once domestic needs are met, Pakistan could become a major exporter of wind turbines.

Wind turbines usually have a long life and as long as rotating parts are changed upon reaching their maximum life, wind turbines can last 50 years. Also, as wind turbines require no fuel, there is no running cost other than maintenance cost. With low initial and minimal running costs, electricity can be procured at a considerably lower price, avoiding the need to increase power rates frequently.

The power shortage is harmful to the country’s economy and it is pulling down Pakistan’s GDP growth. The funds spent on import of power generators and their fuel is an enormous drain on the economy. Larger industries can afford power generators, but small/medium enterprise, which is any nation’s primary growth engine, cannot. We need a solution to take care of Pakistan’s power requirements for the next 20 years. Expensive import-based, oil-run power generation is not the answer. These have already increased Pakistan’s fuel import bill. Gas based projects are also not the answer as the country’s gas supply is limited.

World has built 45,000 large dams so far while Pakistan has built only two large dams with 7% of world’s irrigated area, which shows the criminal neglect in safeguarding the life-giving waters. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan was fast moving from being a water-stressed country to a water-scarce country. Currently China’s installed capacity of electricity generation is among the highest i.e. 1,146 million kilo watts, India’s installed capacity is 2,28,722 Megawatts whereas Pakistan has an installed capacity of 21,143 MW but it p r o d u c e s only 10,000 MW due to line losses, delay payments, line rents and poor maintenance of the hydel machinery

China, UK and many other countries have transformed their power sectors by privatizing and liberalizing. Privatization of K-Electric has also led to reduced load-shedding in Karachi and better service delivery as well as collection of receivables. Privatization of energy sector would lure local and foreign direct investment in energy sector; introduce efficient, reliable, greener and sustainable new technologies.

Electricity is now of the major problem that Pakistan is facing from last 8 years. Electricity is the necessity of every human life. Energy is the most important sources for economic growth of a country. Unfortunately, Pakistan has to face a major energy crisis in Natural gas, Power and Oil. This would delay the economy of Pakistan (which is already in complexity). The high cost of the import of Oil, Construction of Big Dams, uncertain regional security environment attached with lack of national agreement to build dams are likely to delay quick resolution of energy crises. This energy deficit will lead to inflation. Similarly, subsidies of billions of rupees have to be doped out “National Electric Utility Provider” to bear loses.

Two key elements of a possible solution are: categorical change in the pattern of energy consumption and change in lifestyles. The current energy consumption trends in Pakistan are extremely inefficient, whether it be in the domestic, industrial, trade or commercial sectors. With minimal effort, well over ten per cent of national electricity can be saved by applying only the first level of energy conservation that is a change in attitude. It is simple, instant and effective and all it requires is a stop to using energy unnecessarily.

Leaving lights and home appliances on even when they are not being used is a common practice in our society. Similarly, many businesses such as shops dealing in cloth and garments, jewelers, 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.

A further economy of 10-15 per cent can be achieved by introducing the second level of energy-conservation practices, especially in industry. Collectively, just through conservation, more than half of the electricity deficit can be met. However, to do that, public education is essential. With the help of effective electronic and print media campaigns the government can quickly educate the masses.

The second part of the solution is a change in lifestyles. It would begin with the acknowledgement that the country is facing a national disaster and every citizen has to pitch in to overcome it. The nation has to draw a clear line between necessities (lighting, fans, TVs, computers, etc.) and luxuries (air conditioners, microwaves, etc.). There is not enough electricity to meet both requirements.

We will have to compromise on luxurious lifestyles in order to meet the necessities. Markets and commercial places can substantially reduce their power consumption by changing their working hours. An early start and early end to capitalize on daylight as much as possible should be recommended rather than having opening hours from afternoon until late at night. Any such policy should be made at the highest level and its implementation should also begin there because charity starts at home. Although there are many proposed solution of energy crisis in Pakistan but privatization of energy sector in Pakistan is the best solution of Energy Crisis in Pakistan.