Minister for Power Omer Ayub Khan said on Monday that efforts are being made to improve "neglected" transmission system for smooth supply of electricity in summer.
He was talking to the media after addressing a consultative workshop on promoting energy efficiency and conservation for sustainable and greener Pakistan organised by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) in collaboration with PM Task Force on Energy Reforms.
The workshop was organised as part of UNIDO's GEF funded project "sustainable energy initiative for industries." The project is meant to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions" by facilitating the "creation of a market environment to promote the use of Energy Efficient (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE) technologies and measures in the selected industrial sector of Pakistan". The project is promoting energy management system (EnMS) leading to System Optimization in 50 industrial units catering to five energy intensive sectors including textiles, paper & pulp, foundry, ceramics and food processing.
Omer Ayub said that in the past transmission system was neglected but now the loopholes in the system from power generation to its transmission are being addressed.
The minister, who is personally monitoring drive against pilferage, said that action has been taken against power pilferage. 30,000 cases were registered and about 3000 people involved in pilferage were sent behind the bars. He said as part of this campaign, 400 employees of Discos were also suspended.
Earlier addressing the workshop the Minister stated that Pakistan's current account deficit is the result of heavy import of oil and LNG to produce 60 per cent of Pakistan's energy which is fossil fuel-based energy. The present government is working day and night on change of energy mix with 30 per cent renewable energy (18000 MW) as total generation, at around 55000 MW, by 2030. Presently, Pakistan's total installed capacity is 30,000 MW, of which 60 per cent is reliant on imported fuel, 30 percent hydel, 6 per cent nuclear and 4 per cent renewable energy, adding that this is not sustainable.
He also highlighted the measures the incumbent government has taken and is taking to deal with theft and recovery.
"Our aim is to conserve energy, proper use and making it affordable to all citizens of Pakistan. Our neighbour China is also focusing on energy conservation. The key area where we want the energy should go in is manufacturing industry, which will help increase exports, reduce trade deficit and current account deficit," he added.
Secretary Power Irfan Ali, in his closing remarks appreciated the experts for sharing their views about the future energy trends and the measures required for sustainable and affordable energy supply to all Pakistanis.
Chairman Prime Minister Energy Task Force, Nadeem Babar, said that most people have repeatedly heard about shortage of energy and high cost of energy but they have not heard about wastage of energy.
Presently, Pakistan uses up to 84 million tons of furnace oil to produce energy and estimates indicate that 50-70 per cent of this energy is not converted into useful form of energy; this is not sustainable nor is it a responsible use of energy, he stated.
Nadeem Babar said that the government is fully committed to reforming the energy sector and conservation, efficiency and standards is very much central theme of new National Integrated Energy Plan.
He said, in Power Policy 1994, focus was on furnace oil fired power generation due to cheaper RFO but that was a wrong decision. He said that Integrated Energy Plan for next 28 years (2047) with slogan of "Sara Pakistan" will be based on four principles: (i) sustainability of production and use of energy;(ii) affordability of energy for all segments of society;(iii) responsibility of use of energy, i.e, conservation ad energy efficiency and (iv) availability for all including those not currently having access.
He further stated that the principles of conservation, energy efficiency and quality and standards will lower the cost and increase availability of energy for all.
UNIDO's representative Masroor Ahmed Khan, Manager Technical NEECA, Asad Muhamod, Research Director at the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security, Dr Frank Umbach also gave their presentations.
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