Though the Govt is deploying massively in infrastructure (eg Quaid-i-Azam solar park worth of 1000KW) but there are other issues/solution we are ignoring. Major solar energy companies (NRG Clean Power, SunPower by Positive Energy Solar, Boston Solar, etc) should be consulted based on public private partnership and this should be deployed to individual houses. Believe, the God gifted geo-graphical Pakistan got so much potential, that once solar and wind parts are deployed at gross level; we can overcome this 10,000 MW shortfall in 2 years in contrast to hydro-electric (which can take a decade) .
We need to overcome these issues:
1- Affordable:We should consider the rate of electricity being produced. The current rate is around Pkr 14/unit and the customer is paying around Pkr 11/unit. There are huge losses in terms of subsidy, transmission losses (infrastructure breakout, old-fashioned ways to transmission by K-Electric), and theft losses (around 22% is lost due to theft)?
Solution: Clearly, we must focus on these issues rather than merely producing more power. Subsidy policy might be revised as some mafia is exploiting it rather than being helping poor
2- Collection of Bills:Recent reports shows, abt 80-90% bills are being recovered. This is another loss, we are facing. There are reports saying electricity loss due to theft and non-collection (and some other issues, e.g. difference between unit production price and unit payment by customer, which we might call subsidy) account roughly for 40%.
Solution: We should develop better mechanism for payment of bills and tracking.
3- Dont subsidies:The energy being produced i very expensive compared to neighbouring regions (on avg 14 PKR/unit). The customer pay around 11/unit. The loss is being subsided (Rest assure it is "LOSS").
Solution: We need to revise policies of subsidise and shift our focus from "Oil-based Power" plants to renewable sources (say solar, gas, etc). We are producing 37% energy from oil (contrast to the rest of the world which is 6%), which is needed to be switched to coal/Soar.
4- Erroneous Shortfall:As there might be considerable amount of massive who are not connected to the grid, hence, we might not have precise view of energy shortfall (which at present is the difference between demand and supply). Moreover, we cant even assume that the ones, who are connected to grid, will use a specific amount of energy (they might consume more).
Report say, Pakistan needs around 15,000 to 20,000 MW electricity per day, however, currently it is able to produce only 11,500 MW per day hence there is a shortfall of about 4000 to 9000 MW per day.
Report say, Pakistan needs around 15,000 to 20,000 MW electricity per day, however, currently it is able to produce only 11,500 MW per day hence there is a shortfall of about 4000 to 9000 MW per day.
Solution: Better surveys are needed for estimation.
We can get the solar energy as long as sun is there and it's totally free of cost. Central station should be created, so that in summer, the individual plants can send extra energy to those remote locations; resulting in "free/cheap energy". On serious note, you dont need to construct massive debatable water dams, (say kala bagh etc), and conventional hydel, hydral, and coal plants, to overcome energy crises. The Planning Commission is doing GREAT (especially in CPEC energy projects), but comprehensive approach is needed to be followed---even controlling losses can reduce crisis significantly.
Comments