Power Generation in Pakistan

Pakistan inherited small utilities companies at the time of partition but they were adequate to meet the power requirements of the time.
Industrialisation had not gathered pace and the population explosion that turned cities like Karachi into a large metropolis had not yet taken place.
Emphasis on constructing west open houses that were breezy and cool and absence of large apartment blocks that become like clay ovens in summer heat necessitating air conditioning also helped preservation of Energy. Today all that has changed.
Today Pakistan is confronting a most serious handicap in the energy sector. There is an ever-increasing gap between electricity (one source of energy) availability and demand.
The acute shortage of electricity has resulted in load shedding during the summer dry spell, costing the economy $950 million in 1992-93. As of Oct' 2002 the demand was 12,735 MW (Source: FESCO - Information Memorandum, January 03, 2003) and by 2009-10 the demand will be 15,000 MW.
A look at the supply side options in Pakistan reveals that the non renewable resources Coal, Oil, Gas, Thermal power plants, for power generation are quite in adequate to meet country's growing demand, Figures form 2000-2001 show that the current breakdown of final energy consumption with oil (45.9%) in lead followed by natural gas (32.2%), electricity (15.7%), coal (5.1%) and LPG (1.1%). Domestic coal reserves may be exploited only through great financial and environmental costs (Recently large deposits of coal has been found in Sindh area) while 70% of Pakistan's oil needs are met through imports.
At present the total installed generation capacity is about 17,758 MW (Source: KESC - Information Memorandum, January 15, 2004) and economic indicators indicate that a minimum of 2000 MW of firm generation capacity is required to be added to the power system by 2015.
The single renewable energy resource, Pakistan possesses in abundance is hydropower. With these facts the best suited solution to Pakistan's energy/electricity crisis are hydropower projects.
In the area of Hydro Power the Northern part of the country is rich with hydro power resources.
Other than 12 big (capacity greater than 1 MW) hydro power plants, there are a large number of sites in the high terrain, where natural and manageable waterfalls are abundantly available.
The population in these areas is isolated in thin clusters and is located far from physical infrastructure. Such remote population can get great benefit from such energy sources.
The recoverable potential in micro-hydropower (MHP) up to 100 kW, is roughly estimated to be 300 MW on perennial water falls in northern Pakistan. Besides, there is an immense potential for exploiting water falls in the canal network particularly in Punjab, where low head high discharge exists on many canals.
The Pakistan Council for Appropriate Technology (PCAT) has installed on a cost sharing basis a total of 228 "run of river type" plants with total capacity of 3MW in the North Western Frontier region.
The civil works including construction of power channel, power house, electric poles, and distribution network, are done by the beneficiaries themselves while the institute provides mechanical equipment as well as technical expertise and supervision.
These plants not only provide electricity for light at night but are also used to run small industrial units such as flour mills for wheat and maize thrashing, and cotton ginning during the day time when electricity is not required for lighting.
Pakistan's reported level of technically exploitable hydro capability (130 TWh/year) places it in the middle ranks of Asian countries in this respect, alongside Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar and Nepal.
The degree of utilisation of its potential is relatively high. Hydro capacity in operation at the end of 2002 totalled 5,009 MW (including Tarbela, 3,478 MW and Mangla, 1,000 MW) (Source: KESC - Information Memorandum, January 15, 2004).
The Ghazi Barotha Hydel Power Project with a total capacity of 1,450 MW is expected to be completed in June 2004.
The first two of its five generation units (290 MW each) have commenced operations in FY 03 (Source: KFSC - Information Memorandum, January 15, 2004).
The planned development of hydro capacity includes several large/very large projects, including Kalabagh (2,400 MW) and Basha (3,360 MW).
As per GoP estimates, the current power generation capacity of Pakistan is sufficient to cater to demand upto 2004-2005. In order to augment its generating capacity, GoP has introduced Power Policy 2002.
The main aim of the policy is to enhance generating capacity by 2,000MW by 2015. Furthermore, GoP has encouraged the utilisation of indigenous resources such as water (hydel), coal, gas, local manufacturers and manpower, and incentives have been offered to investors in this area.
As a measure to meet the projected shortfall of 700 to 900 MW in the next five years in the Karachi area, the PPIB has invited proposals from private sector sponsors for a 300 MW unit at Gadani and two 300 MW plants at Hawksbay, Salient features of this policy are:
-- Different model of ownership available. ie Private, Public-Private and Public sector
-- Proposal based on raw sites or at initial stage feasibility studies welcomed.
-- Thrust on development of power projects based on indigenous resources and fuels especially coal and renewable.
-- Tariff (for solicited bids) to be determined through international competitive bidding.
-- Two part tariff comprising of Capacity Purchase Price (CPP) and Energy Purchase Price (EPP).
-- To promote indigenisation, the local engineering industry will be encouraged to form joint ventures with foreign companies in order to develop power projects with cumulative capacity of at least 2000MW by year 2015.
Another source of Power Generation available in the country is Nuclear power but international restrictions on developing countries for installing this kind of power generation has made it very difficult to acquire power stations for this kind of generation.
A small (125 MWe) PHWR plant was commissioned in 1971. Known as Kanupp (Karachi Nuclear Power Plant), this facility makes a minor contribution (less than 1 %) to the national electricity supply.
A second plant (Chasnupp 1), a 300 MWe PWR, has been constructed at Chasma; it was connected to the grid in June 2000. Plans are reported for a second unit at Chasma, to be operational in about 2009: negotiations with China on its construction were under way in May 2001.
Pakistan like other countries is also looking at renewable resources that are technologically viable and have prospects to be exploited commercially.
These include micro-hydel, bio-energy, wind and solar energy. Pakistan can benefit from these as substitute energy in areas where sources exist.
It will not be out of place to mention the role of Siemens Pakistan that has made a tremendous contribution to power generation and it's transmission and distribution in Pakistan.
To date, Siemens has added over 2,500 MW to Pakistan's power generation capacity. This represents 15% of the country's installed output.
In the field of Power Transmission and Distribution Siemens success has again guaranteed the success of Pakistan and ensured it's smooth industrialisation. Siemens has played a major role in building 500KV Grid Stations in WAPDA network.
So far Siemens has built maximum number of 500KV Grid Stations in WAPDA network and ensures its reliable operation in Wapda system. Besides 500KV Grid Stations, Siemens has also built, in the past many high voltage substations of other voltage levels and has supplied components for Grids.
Previously, most of Siemens' projects were for public sector utility companies. However, since private companies were encouraged to enter this field, Siemens is now also involved in projects for Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The 412-MW Combined-Cycle Rousch Power Plant an IP, which Siemens built and also holds a stake, went into commercial operations a few year back. It is the third combined--cycle power plant of its size to have been built by Siemens in Pakistan.
Siemens is also meeting major demand of WAPDA in the field of Distribution Transformers and Medium Voltage Switchgear.
Siemens is also supplying Power Transformers to WAPDA from their Karachi factory since 1982. It has supplied more than 200 Power Transfomers to WAPDA, KESC and Private Sector till date. Siemens can make transformers upto 50/60MVA with voltage level of 132KV.
Siemens has now established a Service Centre for power plants maintenance & service to provide first hand services to power plant owners and operators and save valuable foreign exchange for the country.
The first 220 KV state-of-the-art Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation at Islamabad is also in its final stages.
Siemens also offers complete energy solutions and latest technology for renewable sources like Solar and wind and continues to play its role as a reliable partner for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.