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LAHORE, July 28 (APP): The experts believe that Pakistan
must produce energy by exploiting abundant hydel, coal and renewable energy
resources available in the country to overcome crippling power shortage of about
1890 MW. The existing energy crisis has adversely affected
agriculture, industrial sectors as well as destabilized the entire economic
structure of the country. Large-scale manufacturing and GDP growth have also
experienced negative growth.
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Talking to APP, President, Pakistan Engineering Congress (PEC),
Engr. Husnain Ahmad said that abysmal lack of planning by the previous
government and current economic recession have been responsible for the
prevailing energy crisis and demand Herculean effort from the government.
He said that Energy is the lie line of economic development
but unfortunately Pakistan lacks integrated National Energy Security plan for
the 21st century. He said that Public Policy comes to the front
burner only when there is a real crisis on the supply side, when serious
shortages have appeared in the power sector; when oil prices suddenly go up;
when natural gas, once considered to be an abundant resource, also experiences
supply shortages.
He said country has hydel potential of more than 20,000 to
25,000 MW but Hydel generation has not increased from 6459 MW since 2004. He
said alone in upper Indus basin Pakistan has a potential of 13981 MW through
Dasu, Bunji, Thakot, Patan, rakhiot, Yulbo, Kalangai, Kohala, Munda, Karot dams
on rivers Indus, Swat and Jehlum.
As compared to the other neighbouring countries Pakistan
has only 71 dams of more than 15-feet height whereas China has 26000, India
4050, Turkey 591 and Iran 310 dams, he said adding that despite abundant
Hydro-Electric Potential Pakistan has not constructed any large-Dam for last
three decades to provide cheap Electricity for Industrial and Agriculture
advancement. He said that immediate work on Kalabagh, Akhori and Skardu dams was
the need of the hour.
He said that planning was needed to avoid producing energy
through thermal generation since it caused a huge burden on foreign exchange
earnings and they went down the drains in importing furnace oil and other fuels.
In the wake of depleted gas resources in the country and high costs on fuel,
coal can be used as a energy source, he said.
Coal contributes to 38% of World’s Electricity supply & 23%
of global primary Energy needs. Coal contributes 16% of Energy supply in U.K, in
China 67%, Canada 24%, USA 23%, India 55%, whereas, in Pakistan the contribution
of coal if limited to only 7%.
He said that Pakistan is blessed with inexhaustible
Renewable Energy (RE) resources, which if tapped effectively can play a
considerable role in contributing towards energy security and energy
independence of the country. Given the current global energy scenario in general
and Pakistan’s energy scenario in particular, the adoption and deployment of
Alternate Renewable Energy (ARE) technologies makes perfect sense as it
inherently favours indigenous, inexhaustible energy resources which also happen
to be efficient options by default. This is also in line with the objective of
the Government of Pakistan to develop RE technologies in the country so that RE
has a share of at least 7.4% of the overall energy mix by the year 2030, he
said.
Speaking about the benefits of exploiting indigenous energy
resources, he said that the lowest strata of the society can thus benefit from
ARE technologies thereby improving the livelihood and quality of life; meaning
ARE technologies can play an effective role for meeting the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) as well.
He said that construction of Pakistan’s first ever wind
energy project of commercial scale is hopefully the first drop of water that
will eventually transform into an ocean adding the government needs to initiate
tangible efforts to utilize the immense wind potential available throughout the
country and should not limit itself to Gharo-Keti Bandar Wind corridor alone.
Engr. Husnain Ahmad said that approximately 73,900 MW of
Electricity is being generated through Wind-power the world over especially in
the following Countries while Pakistan has recently established a project of
Wind Power of 50 MW in Thatta while countries like Germany produce 18,000 MW,
Spain 8,000 and USA 7,000. “Solar Energy which has extremely broad-ranging
applications is also needed to be exploited by the government,” he added.
He further said that Alternative Energy is not just limited
to wind and solar; alternative fuels also form a major portion of Alternative &
Renewable Energy sector and should be encouraged as such.
He said that the decision of the government of Pakistan to
achieve targets for replacing diesel with Biodiesel is praiseworthy.
Talking to APP, the Federal Minister for Labour and
Manpower, Syed Khurshid Shah said that the PPP government realizes its
responsibility towards the country and the masses and two projects have already
been started to utilize Thar coal resources for producing energy to overcome
energy crisis in the country. He said that miracles should not be expected from
an almost a year old government in power. Syed Khurshid Shah said that PPP
government is aware of its responsibilities and would rise to the occasion as it
has done in the past. He said that Paksitan would soon be self-sufficient in
energy sector.
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