While the nation suffers loadshedding and blackouts the high-ups in the concerned bodies NEPRA, PPIB are hanging on to their cushy jobs and trying to do "nothing" as this is the safest course of action. Doing nothing is not challengeable nor does it bear the risk of questioning or accountability.
There is no accountability for inaction even though this may be much more harmful. "it costs Rs 5 per kWh using furnace oil to produce electricity while it costs Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 per kWh using gas and Rs 0.60 per kWh in hydel generation."
Is there any comparison? Notwithstanding, the importance of thermal generation to mesh the seasonal variations in hydropower generation it is clearly understood that the hydel/thermal mix of 30/70 should be 70/30 in favour of hydropower. Is it a very difficult or complicated decision that every scrap of hydel potential in the country should be developed as fast as possible day and night on an emergency basis, as each MW of hydropower will eat into and replace our enormous fuel bill.
The fact that a hydropower project is small and our shortage much greater should be no excuse for complacency. Hydropower has other benefits too; it provides national energy security, relief for exploding balance of payments deficit and a better quality of life through pollution reduction and all this at one-fifth the cost? Shame!
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