CSS Current Affairs 2019 Question: Critical Review of Pakistan National Energy Policy 2013-2018
Energy Crisis is a significant bottleneck in the supply of energy resource to a national economy. Pakistan is facing multiple challenges for utilizing the native energy resources and to formulate rational energy policies. It is found that water resources management attained more emphasis in early decades of post-independence rather than energy concerns. With the formulation of the new government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his administration have taken early months of their tenure to inform public what the former government was unable to do for the past six years: energy supply it can be cheap and uninterrupted, as Pakistan is rich in energy supply sources. This policy was developed to support current & future needs of Pakistan & to solve issues of energy production, distribution & consumption.
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Long Term Aims
This policy aims to build power generation capacity that meets energy needs and aims to create a culture of energy conservation, ensuring the people of inexpensive and affordable electricity for domestic, commercial and industrial use. It proposes charging higher rates from industrial and upper-middle class household consumers, who have heavy electricity use. Wind power potential like Jhampeer is to be found in many places of KPK that will serve local needs and provide 80 MW of electricity.
Salient Features of Pakistan National Energy Policy
- To provide sufficient capacity for power generation at less cost and avoid capacity shortfalls.
- To ensure the exploitation of renewable resources
- Promote world-class efficiency in power generation.
- Create a cutting edge transmission network.
- Minimize inefficiencies in distribution system.
- Minimize financial losses across the system.
- Introduce alternatives like solar energy projects.
The weakness of Pakistan National Energy Policy
Energy consumption in the last decade has increased due to higher levels of economic growth; to maintain this momentum, the economy would require cheap and abundant energy supplies in the coming years. The interconnected approach is required to surpass problems of energy crises.
The energy sector is facing the following issues:
- Privatisation/efficiency
- Demand for energy
- Energy and economic growth
- Rural electrification/ independent power producers
- Need for an energy policy
- Alternative and renewable energy
Renewable Energy Sources, A Strength
Pakistan is blessed with potential renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass. Abundant sources of renewable energy could make for a much more sustainable and greener solution. Pakistan already derives 30 % of its energy from hydroelectricity. Located in subtropical latitudes, most of Pakistan consistently receives more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Approximately Pakistan has about 2900 GW of solar power potential. Also, total exploitable wind resource of approximately 120,000 MW could be exploited to power the national grid.
Conclusion
Successful implantation of this policy will lead to enormous improvement in power sector & cost will be reduced to a single digit per unit. Improvements in transmission and distribution will decrease the burden of power. Nawaz Administration took some time in crafting its strategy, rather than rushing to meet a deadline. Yet, the manner in which this policy has been handled by the administration is an exercise in statesmanship on the part of Prime Minister. It is rare to see such leadership on matters of such critical importance to the economy and hopes the implementation of this grand vision is just as well-managed.
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