The decline of slavery with the end of the Roman conquests produced one of the first recoded energy crises in the history of world. It was resolved by technological developments and inorganic-power sources, such as water wheel and windmill, were developed. Then wood became the major fuel and its deficiency led to a new energy crises, which was resolved by coal. The steam engine gave birth to the new science of thermodynamics. Then internal combustion engines that used a wholly new fuel, petroleum, were invented. After this, came the era of electricity.
Pakistan is in the grip of serious energy crises that is affecting all sectors of the economic-growth and various segments of society. As the situation stands today, there are hardly any immediate solutions to be resolve the issue. A change of attitude and a change in life style is needed at the national level which should be triggered by the ruling elite and followed by all segments of society that have access to electricity. At best there could be some short-term and long-term solution to the crises but they need immediate planning and execution with an enormous investment. The year 2010 has begun on depressing note as Pakistan continues to suffer from the worst energy crises in its history. The crises that were triggered in 2006 had affected all the sectors industry, house-holds, agriculture, transport and trade & commerce.
One of the major reasons for the serious short-fall in the generation of thermal-electricity is the problem of “circular-debt' which the present government inherited from the previous regime. In 2007, the government did not compensate the power companies for the subsidy that was provided to consumers. This problem of “circular-debt' became more serious in summer 2008, as petroleum prices jumped from 100$-147$/barrel.
All advanced nations plans to achieve the “supply-demand' gap of future but in Pakistan the last big dam was constructed in 1947. It was Tarbela dam and since no big energy reservoir was built to meet the needs of increasing population and urbanization.
In all major economic giants of the world there is a complete harmony between the “input and output' of energy but in Pakistan we are suffering from an input-output gap. The wastage of energy is a common phenomenon in Pakistan. Moreover lack of planning and our too much dependence on oil for generation of power has led us to the current shortfall of power. Our country can generate electricity with the help of wind and solar energy which has not been exploited to meet the energy deficit. Solar energy is poised to provide 20% of all the incremental energy needed by worldwide by 2040. Nuclear energy is yet another source of energy and at present PAEC produces 472MW.
So many massive government companies are running without their payments of bills and so many numbers of dues remaining on them to be paid. Like Pakistan air lines, Pakistan railways and Pakistan steel mills etc. These are some of major issues interlinking with the massive “circular debt' and in the great shortfall of electricity.
The best solution to overcome energy crises is to convert all above mentioned problem in recommendations for their solutions or to resolve all these hall marks responsible for the shortage of electricity for long term policies but for short term basis we should apply mini-hydro-electric plants MHEP on a low level which could not affect others life and areas, comparing to kala-baagh-dam. MHEP should be provided in villages, Nevada and tribal areas which are in-connection with rivers, lack or waterfalls. In Spain, wind energy is used to generate about 10% of total energy. For short-term and effective policy we should utilize alternate sources for production of energy like wind, tidal, solar, nuclear and geothermal energies
Power crises are not the part of only Pakistan but the wholly worldwide bottle-neck. Countries are taking such steps to overcome, most of all have at most done Pakistan is also taking such measurements to overrule these problem but as we are digitally divided nation so facing some obstacles but inshallah all these problems will be minimized as we all together make some effort to resolve it from a single podium.
|
|
|
last viewed articles
