International experts have expressed concerns over Pakistan's power generation projects

International experts have expressed concerns over Pakistan's power generation project
                                                  

The projects do not meet the principles of global power generation. The assumptions made by Islamabad are not correct. Experts

ISLAMABAD: International experts have expressed concern over power generation projects in Pakistan over the next 27 years, saying the government's plans do not meet the principles of global power generation. The National Transmission and Dispatch Company had presented a long-term plan in view of the expected demand for electricity in the country by 2047.

The plan includes a significant increase in the use of renewable energy and electricity generated from local coal, and a reduction in fossil fuel imports and carbon emissions. (IGCEP) does not meet the principles laid down by the government regarding power generation.

In this regard, Simon Nichols, an economic analyst affiliated with the US Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, has released a report. The assumptions that have been made to estimate the expected demand and production capacity of electricity are not correct, so the conclusions drawn from these assumptions are also incorrect.

According to the US Broadcasting Corporation, experts say the government's proposed plan relies heavily on locally-generated coal and hydropower projects over the next 27 years, while energy-efficient. Renewables are given less importance. Experts warn that Pakistan's energy ministry's plans to increase power generation capacity are far superior to reality. Estimates of expected demand and increase in production capacity are incorrect. Due to this unrealistic estimate, Pakistan will face a serious problem of overcapacity and thus these power plants will become a burden on the national economy.

Experts say countries such as China, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia, which have made such estimates in the past, are now facing the problem of overcapacity, according to economic analyst Simon Nichols. Capacity charges in terms of production capacity are already a serious problem for the country's power sector, he said.

The report said that with the establishment of surplus power generation capacity in the future, Pakistan will also have to pay a hefty amount in terms of capacity charges to the unusable power plants, which will have an impact on the national exchequer. By 2030, the country will be generating 5.3 gigawatts of electricity from coal, but its collective consumption is expected to be only 14%.

Experts say renewable energy has generally been overlooked in the project and no new wind power projects have been added since 2030. The report says that energy generation from alternative sources The rate will be 31% while in 2047 it will be reduced to 23% which shows that Pakistan's authorities are not relying on modern sources of electricity.

On the one hand, reducing dependence on imported fuels is undoubtedly a commendable step. Reducing the use of coal and other fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy will improve Pakistan, but the government's plan to generate electricity at a lower cost, the report said. Local sources of wind and solar energy are nowhere given due importance.

According to Haniya Asad, a research analyst affiliated with the Rural Development Policy Institute, some government experts working on energy research agree that the government's plan will lead to a sharp rise in electricity prices in the country. Over-generating capacity and reduction in its use will make power plants a burden on the national exchequer. In the "Integrated Plan" prepared by the Government of Pakistan to increase power generation, 40,000 coal will be generated in the next 27 years. Power generation up to MW is estimated.

This year, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air expressed surprise at the dependence on coal-fired power. Experts say the world's coal-fired power plants are being phased out, but the situation in Pakistan is the opposite. . The report of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air said that the project under construction of large scale coal mines and power plants in Tharparkar district of Sindh province would generate 3,700 MW of electricity in the area. Nine power plants will be installed.

According to environmentalists who prepared the report, toxic gases from these plants and coal mines are expected to affect about 100,000 people, as well as about 29,000 deaths from air pollution over the next 30 years. There is also a risk of an increase in respiratory diseases. According to experts The southern regions of Pakistan have the best climate for alternative energy production, which can be used to balance energy production, but the problem is that solar and wind energy 24 Hours are not available and of course backup resources are required.

According to the government's plan, electricity will be generated from LNG plants and thermal plants for backup sources, but these sources are expensive and not environmentally friendly. Pakistan has the potential to increase the production of affordable and clean electricity, but we need to make better use of technology with innovation and open-mindedness. In this plan, it was estimated that by the year 2047, the country's electricity requirement will increase from 130,000 MW to 220,000 MW.

To this end, the country's dependence on hydropower and the vast coal reserves in Thar will meet the demand for electricity, while by 2030, various alternative energy projects will also significantly increase power generation. The four provinces of the country and the government of Azad Kashmir have also raised their objections to the plan with the National Power Regulatory Authority (NPRA). Synonymous with style.