Electric Dreams?

Ref taikonaut #6

[For nuclear power, we need to move away from this false pride in nukes and move towards peaceful use of nuclear energy. Only then we can get funding and know how from the West.]

You can turn in all your nukes to Uncle Sam, hand over AQ Khan to the CIA, and you still won`t get any nuclear knowhow from the West.

The sin of selling centrifuges to Iran and bomb blueprints to Libya is too serious to be overlooked.

Ref kamath #2

[I don`t understand why the Pkistn government has n`t thought about generating energy from windmill farms and solar cells.]

They are busy trying to figure out how to harness the power of jinns.

#6 by taikonaut

You`re right. There`s no answer other than hydel power for Pakistan. Let`s look at the alternatives:

1) Thermal: Do we have oil? Can we control input cost? Current account deficit? Etc ..

2) Solar: Good for greenhouses but not much else.

3) Nuclear: Much too expensive to install, maintain and operate. Cost-of-doing business?

4) Windmills: It would take tens of thousands to power maybe just 1/10th of Karachi.

5) Hydel: Cheap. Indigenous free inputs. Pays for itself in a fraction of its useful life.

However, Pakistan`s energy problems are self-inflicted. After Tarbela, no serious attempt was made to build other mega dams before Tarbela`s useful life expired. During the first tenure of Nawaz Sharif, a water distribution accord was agreed between the provinces and implemented, and next step would have been agreement over dams. After Nawaz`s tenure was interrupted, the next Benazir government turned around and decided on thermal instead of hydel.

It was probably the most damaging decision in Pak history which not only raised the cost of doing business manifold (let alone hardship to domestic consumer) decreasing Pak`s competetiveness in export markets, but also sent the current account in permanent spiral due to massive oil import bills Vs decreasing export earnings.

An interesting clause in the 1994 Power Purchase Agreement of the Government of Pakistan with the IPPs is that the government guarantees to pay for 60% of installed capacity, whether it actually buys it or not. Since by the time all IPPs came on line the power was actually in excess of demand, WAPDA actually had to pay some IPPs 60% to keep their plants closed. Also, the plants were over-invoiced to $1 million per MW instead of the actual international cost of around $600,000 to recover the kickbacks through factoring-in the extra capital cost in the final tariffs paid by WAPDA.

It will be a great misfortune if still the Kalabagh Dam is not built.

Dear Mariam

Thanks for the article.

But, to be honest, I am feel more worried about the `DARKNESS` of the mind, soul and ideas in the country.

nhk

Electricity issue is a serious one. Thanks for bringing it to light (no pun intended!).

Let`s make certain that solar power is not so `hot` and wind power has no wind when it comes to large scale power generation. Both of them are good for meeting needs for doll houses and toy boxes.

Pakistan`s installed capacity is 18GW (that is Giga Watt) right now. We need another 20 GW in the near term. No sola or winda power can produce that much power. The obvious answer is to complete big dams (hated by smaller provinces), and go for at least 10-12 nuclear power stations with roughly 2,000MW each.

Both of these solutions need radical departure from our national mood. Smaller provinces must realize the need and allow mega dams.

For nuclear power, we need to move away from this false pride in nukes and move towards peaceful use of nuclear energy. Only then we can get funding and know how from the West.

Both of these solutions need big sacrifices. However we must change otherwise, the future of Karachi electricity will remain superb just like other big city squalors in our neighborhood.

Electricity issue is a serious one. Thanks for bringing it to light (no punn intended!).

Let`s make certain that solar power is not so `hot` and wind power has no wind when it comes to large scale power generation. Both of them are good for meeting needs for doll houses and toy boxes.

Pakistan`s installed capacity is 18GW (that is Giga Watt) right now. We need another 20 GW in the near term. No sola or winda power can produce that much power. The obvious answer is to complete big dams (hated by smaller provinces), and go for at least 10-12 nuclear power stations with roughly 2,000MW each.

Both of these solutions need radical departure from our national mood. Smaller provinces must realize the need and allow mega dams.

For nuclear power, we need to move away from this false pride in nukes and move towards peaceful use of nuclear energy. Only then we can get funding and know how from the West.

Both of these solutions need big sacrifices. However we must change otherwise, the future of Karachi electricity will remain superb just like other big city squalors in our neighborhood.

These are certainly the ground realities every Pakistani ``strategist`` must be thinking about. This whole Army-Mullah nexus and ``unfinished business of partition thing`` has completely hijacked the secular issues from the public agenda.
Now this Paki Army-Mullah Jehadi Agenda and the equally stupid fight on terror is obfuscating the issues of democracy and distributive justice within the third world and has simplified every thing into cosnpiracies between the faithful and the others.
The real issue in Pakistan now is the manner in which the General is ``Controlling`` the dictator`s license control raj. This guy and his coterie decides who can invest in Pakistan and when. His coterie is doling out lollipops of investment and other clearances to those businesses who support Musharaff and is slowly constricting those who do not follow his line.
This dictator is another slow POISON who has followed the path of Rent-Seeking from the businesses in return for support. He is a ruthless man who can stage dummy bomb attacks on himself in order to divert attention from his own rascal acts. I can predict that he would go down by the end of this year and Pakistan would be in a state of civil war!!

Dear Mariam Zaidi Sahib:

Great article, and very timely indeed. I have been involved with the power industry for a long time. As a matter of fact, recently there were some inquiries made by my friends in Karachi, regarding solar energy. The US estimated rate for solar powered energy is approximately $5 per watt. In the US a typical house has more power density than a typical house in Karachi. Also, there are all sorts of rebate programs being given by local utility companies to conserve energy.

In my understanding of the electric power situation for Karachi, there are several issues that the authorities could work on. One is the massive rebate program. Let`s face it, for solar energy of 1,000 Watt installed called in Karachi would be approximately $50,000.

I would be interested in reading other comments, regarding this issue.

Respectfully submitted,

I don`t understand why the Pkistn government has n`t thought about generating energy from windmill farms and solar cells. This may not relieve people all the energy requirements but definitely will help.

In India these are becoming popular in some states. In one of the southern states, the govt subsidizes cost for installation of solar cell panel on any house. It works wonders even if you have just 100 watts, it works wonders and enables litle light in the house and children can read and write.

These are the burning issues. Instead of attacking them with religious fervour, the the Big General seems to be more interesretd in rubbing shoulders with other statesmaen, promoting his book , travelling abroad for long stretches of time and diverting money to the F16 planes.

That is a pity and it can have far reaching consequences.

Kamath

Great article!