Energy requirements by 2030

To meet the energy requirements of the country till 2030 the development of power projects will have to be planned meticulously and implemented with courage and commitment. Political short-sighted considerations and provincial prejudices should not be allowed to take precedence over larger national interests. The nature of the task is such that only a determined and bold leadership will be able to accomplish it.

It has been estimated that total energy requirements of the country by 2030 will be around 160,000MW (round figure) whereas present generation capacity of the system is only 19,000MW. With the rapid growth of population and ever-increasing energy demand to keep pace with economic progress, this huge energy deficit has to be bridged up through hydel, thermal, nuclear and coal power stations. Fortunately Pakistan is capable of meeting this target with the potential at its disposal. For example its hydel potential is close to 40,000MW, Gas can produce 50,000MW, coal can produce more than 50,000MW and the balance of 10,00MW can be produced with the help of nuclear power plants. A stage may come in too distant a future when coal takes over the entire power generation of the country.

Big dams like Kala Bagh, Daimer, Bhasha and Akori can be made functional earliest b\ 2016 and latest’by 2020. For gas, however, decisions backed by grit, determination and boidnes’ will have to be taken to ride over the US opposition to WI in particular and making import of gas feasible through the hostile territory of Afghanistan. For production of nuclear power, the country is in possession of 30,000 metric tones of Uranium-308 which can be enriched for use as fuel in power generation. One nuclear power plant is already in operation producing 400MW and another with 500MW capacity is under construction with Chinese help. Many more nuclear plants can come up given the will and determination to do so. Pakistan’s coal reserves are 185 billion tones which are second largest in the world. Let the coal, therefore, take care of the energy crisis.