PHD Scholar                                                               

University of Education                                                            

Lahore Pakistan

Zafar-ul-Islam Mehmood

PHD Scholar

University of Education

Lahore Pakistan

Education.zafar@yahoo.com

Sagheer Iqbal

PHD Scholar                                                               

University of Education                                                

Lahore Pakistan           

Power Crisis A Close Look On Its Dimension and Solutions 

 Pakistan a Country of one sixty billion people is facing worse crises of power. At present Pakistan has shortage of 32000 mega watts. Which shake every walk of life. Every segment of society is facing this problem and the condition is growing worse. From an Industrialist to a student, from a peasant to a mechanic every one is anxious over this condition. Rising prices of oil added fuel to fire on the situation, Pakistan is a country which waste cubic feet water by throwing it to Arabian Sea, Pakistan a lucky country with such lands where energy through water by making small dams be obtained. At present 15000 thousand units are working only on General shift bases.

About 5 lac connections were given by water and power development. Authority in the last 5 years but production of electricity and Gas which are main sources of every in the country is not increased according to its demand. (Economic Survey of Pakistan (2005-06).

The production capacity of Dams is reclaiming the biggest source of producing energy Tarbella Dam is going to its end due to medisation 2012. Extension of Mangla dam is still under progress. Munda, Bahsha and Akohri Dams are just on papers. Kalabagh Dam which is considered a big source of energy has become a political issue and not seen for going to be solved. The other sources of energy are not under serious consideration. At present every inhabitant of Pakistan is facing 10-16 hrs of loud shedding and if the condition which. I am putting before you may become more worse which will be a main cause of our economic destruction and in result of economic destruction social crisis will be on the way. Wuller Barrage of India and 390 MW Kshenganga hydroelectric projects will seriously affect the power energy projects of Pakistan. At present in the lean season.

Only 2000 cubic feet per second with depth 2.5 we received in river Jehlum which effects. The intervention of the World Bank in solving disputes causing power crises proved crucial.

We are at present near the end of an era. If we are to be a free dynamic and economically expanding nation we must recognize that change must be made if we do not want not wither away with a dying era. Change is always difficult but at the same time, it is always challenging and full of opportunities. It will not happen overnight but will cause major shifts in business, Jobs and over all economy. As we move into the next energy era we can look forward to the time when electricity will supply.

The future of mankind is dependent on abundant, low cost energy that will not destroy our world. If we continue on our current course we will experience difficult situations more 10 times than at present. The cost of doing nothing will be staggering to every individual in Pakistan and our economy and standard of living will continue to decay. We can tackle this worse situation of the country power crises by adopting our power production of Mangla Dam. The Indian 390 MW Kishenganga hydroelectric project will also affect the proposed Neelam-Jelum power project.

(South Asian Journal 2005 Lahore)

The Indian project of linking major Indian rivers overcome drought and floods may also effects the Pakistani today most of the countries are focusing their attention on management of existing water resources including the Dams. The efforts involve rehabilitation, renovation and optimization. Demand side management and improvement efficiency of the existing supply are receiving greater attention.                                                         (South Asian Journal 2005 Lahore)

At present the main source of power water in Pakistan, is sinking 1 to 2 meters a year which is an alarming situation for Pakistan.

Pakistani Dams are losing storage capacity at an estimated rate of 07-1.5 percent annually due to sedimentation causes several options. A brief list you can make as.

1. Building of New Dams small and large.  2.         Nuclear Power.

1. Wind Power generating. Biomass.                     4.         Geothermal
2. Conservation.                                                   5.         Power through Coal.

Causes:

The major causes of power crises in Pakistan may be seen under following headings.

Increase in Electricity Consumption:

The consumption of electricity is increasing on rapid rate in every sector. Electricity in industries the total production of electricity in 44.3% of total power sources. Industries use 29.1% of this electricity and it has increased 12.1 to 17.0% up to 2007.

Economic Survey of Pakistan (2005-06)

The use of electricity day by day but increase n production of electricity is not made according to the demand.

 Fast Urbanization:-

The population of urban areas is increasing rapidly and electricity demand automatically increasing wapda is providing connection but not increasing its production. The number of consumers has increase to 16.6 million in 2006-07 up to March from 15.632 million in 2005 -06 showing an increase of 5% over the last year and a growth of 69% since 1996-97.

Consumers by Economics Groups 

Source: Water and power Development Authority.

Now if we look at the picture of growth of electricity which is not satisfactory.

The increase in electricity can be seen from the following Table.

Electricity Generation by WAPDA

(Source WAPDA)

Village Electrification:

The village electrification programmes increase very much expansion of electricity consumption. The number of electrified villages has increased to 99,595 by the end of March 2006. The village electrification is increased at the rate of 11.6 percent over the last three as against 3.3 percent in the last eight years.

Further more, it took eight years to provide electricity to 16,637 villages but in just three years 25,788 villages have been provided electricity.

Following Table shows a complete picture.

                                                Village Electricity.

Source : WAPDA

Village Electrification:

 Power Losses:

                             Up to 24.2% power losses are there in the country. This power loss is reduced to 22.8 percent but this ratio of controlling power losses is unsatisfactory.

No New Sound Project:

                             After Ghazi Brotha Hydel Project no other major plan is implemented while the demand is increasing political parties do not make series role in power related projects although experts had informed a lot before time about the power crisis in Pakistan.

Power Losses:

                             Up to 24.2% power losses are there in the country. This power loss is reduced to 22.8 percent but this ratio of controlling power losses is unsatisfactory.

 No New Sound Project:

                             After Ghazi Brotha Hydel Project no other major plan is implemented while the demand is increasing political parties do not make series role in power related projects although experts had informed a lot before time about the power crisis in Pakistan.

 Solution of Power Crisis

There are many solutions of power crises that can be discussed as under-

Conservation:

Conservation of power is very immediate effective cheapest source to deal with power crisis to some extent. There methods may be adopted for the conservation of power.

1-                Conservation forced by government decree.

Law or executive order may be issued change of building codes per hour speed limit reduced thermo state settings. Presently govt. orders toward no. Use of A.C up to 11 `o` Clock in the morning may prove helpful to some extent. Similarly at present the building structure of huge commercial buildings will be a cause of enhancing power crises in the country.

2-                Increment in prices of power.

Although this can not be recommended for all the masses of country but it may be applied on the residents of posh areas and on the houses of Area more than 5000 sq feet.

3-                Rationing and Appeal to the Patriots.

The policy is rationing although cause of problems for industries but in the situation of crisis. Government may perform a vital role in this regard. Drive alone in our cars should be decreased by riding over buses.  Our living standard must be changed.

Wind Power Generating:-

                   On the coastal areas of Pakistan specially and in other areas also we can overcome the crisis of power. Wind mills or wind turbines is a wide source of power that we yet do not consider. It is a product of earth’s rotation and air currents generated by the heat of sun. We have wind in some form day or night. It is a low cost and not harming factor for environment. About 100 MW electricity may be produced through this economical source of power crisis.

Bio-Mass:-

                   A cheap source of power generating:

Bio-mass is a power energy source. It may be the controlled digestation of garbage to produce methane gas and other products.

Sugar beets distillation of grains and other crops may be used in biomass conversion to fuels. The collection of wood scraps or the planting of fast-growing trees chemical processing into fuels. This process starts with the growing of plants of various types, all of which grow because of nature’s photosynthesis process. In the country at present electricity through garbage may be produced. The total contribution of this energy.

Source is limited but may prove helpful for facing power crisis. It is economically attractive and beneficial to the general welfare and the environment.

Geo-Thermal:-

                   A natural source of heat is the very heart of our earth. Only the surface is cool and as we penetrate deep underground the temperature rises. At some natural locations the high temperature comes very close to the surface. In the interior Sindh and Balochistan many of such locations are there where the heat of earth may use for geothermal power plants.

Solar Energy:-

                   As the crises power becoming series. Many new sources are also coming in use. The light of sun is a major source of power and a gift of life to humanity. We just have to build solar plants on earth. This source is not ending like other fossil fuel and nuclear energy power plants.

It is a low cost source and will remain a low cost over the long term. More over it is not harmful for our environment. We can no longer continue to pollute our world without regard to future. It will also be available to everyone.

Power through cola:

                   Pakistan about 175 billion tones resources of coal. We can over come the problem of power crisis by using coal for power crisis. About 1500 MW electricity may be produced at earlier stages.

Power at Gharo Sindh as soon as possible.

Recommendations:-

1-                 The projects in pipeline must be completed within short time period.

2-                 Utilization of renewable energy such as solar, wind and bio mass should be increased and encouraged especially for remote areas of the country.

3-                 Construction of small Dams may prove more remedial for tackling power crisis in short period. Moreover construction of small Dams must be built. There are many suitable places in Jhelum Chakwal, Khushab Districts in Punjab and Lower DIR upper Dir, Butkhela, Malakand, Swabi and Abbottabad in NWFP.

Many other places in other parts of the country are where small Dams with low expenses may be built.

4-                 Laws and taxes must be designed to encourage self energy-generation by domestic sector like use of solar heating, solar, geysers.

5-                 It must be tried to start 100 MW wind power at Keti Bander as soon as possible.

It must be tried to install 700 MW wind. Power at Gharo Sindh as soon as possible.

6-                 Developing of solar products like solar fans solar cookers must be encouraged.

7-                 Nuclear power is a cost-effective safe and environmentally begins option for electricity generation. Construction of CHANSUP unit-2 must be completed as early as possible.

8-                 Kalabagh Dam which is considered a major source of power supply once again it must be tried to settle this issue by keeping in view the benefits and reservations of all the groups.

9-                 New subjects about power crisis must be introduced at university level so that solutions from the intellectuals may be considered.

References:-

Pakistan perspective on state and society.

Edited by

Abbas Rashid (2002).Sahe.Lahore.

Bi annual Research Journal

Pakistan perspective Vol-10, July December 2005

Journal South Asian Lahore.

Dr. Saman Kalegama and Ratnakar Adikohri

January-March 2005

Imtiaz Alam Editor and Publisher Lahore

10 Reasons to Abolish the IMF worlbank

Anuradha Mittal

 Publisher open media PAMPHELT. SERIES.

 Van Guard Books Lahore.

 Pakistan Crisis

David Loshale

HEINEMANN LONDON.

Morison and Gibb Ltd London.

 Economic Survey of Pakistan 2005-06 Govt. of Pakistan.