Past records have shown that current 2012 is the worst year in the history of Pakistan in terms of energy crisis with 3544MW shortfall of electricity (as per July 25, 2012). Now in this situation when Pakistan is out of electricity for more than 12 hours we are forced to think that country is under severe energy crisis?
Before sorting out the reasons behind disastrous condition of electricity let’s have a sight over energy resources of Pakistan. In indigenous resources Pakistan is one of the few countries blessed with abundance of water in the form of lakes, rivers and sea; intense amount of sun light; frequently blowing winds and huge tidal waves. All these resources can be transformed into energy. Solar, wind and tidal energy; and hydro electric power can be generated through all these renewable energy resources.
The dilemma our country is confronted with is that instead of having such a replenished natural property only 11% share of energy is added through hydro-electric power. All other resources are not yet being used at a large scale. Keeping the rest of energy types aside if we take only hydropower, water reserves of Pakistan have capacity of producing 40,000MW energy whereas we are generating only 6500MW which is barely 20% of the total capacity. Statistics have shown that by the end of year 2013 there would be 108MAF (million acre feet) loss of water (which is going through our rivers without utilization and drained into the Arabian Sea). It means we will lose the chance of generating 11750MKWH of electricity.
Talking about the other non-renewable energy resources of Pakistan i.e. natural gas, oil and coal; they are adding 50.4%, 29% and 7.6% share in energy demands of Pakistan respectively. Research has shown that Oil demand will be doubled by the year 2015 in Pakistan. Natural gas reserves are also not meeting the present demand of energy and running out rapidly. Coal is also an option of energy production but we still could not manage to utilize our coal reserves efficiently.
The crux the whole issue includes absence of new plans of energy production. As we see since 1980 there was no any major construction of dams in Pakistan. It could not happen because of political instability and lack of national consensus on big projects like Kala Bagh Dam. High cost of oil import is another reason behind this catastrophe. At the stage when our oil reserves are not sufficient, economy of Pakistan is suffering and can’t afford import of oil for meeting our needs.
In conclusion, I must say that need of hour is to switch on to the renewable energy resources to see the lightening in the future of Pakistan. Furthermore good governance is required to solve the problems and initiating the new projects for the prosperity of the country.
