Your editorial (May 20) on the captioned subject is a real eye-opener. You have correctly pointed out that "if the official handout is anything to go by," the government appears to have given precedence to short term political gains by setting unachievable socio-economic targets in relation to our energy needs and available resources.
It is well known that we do not have the resources to meet even our basic energy requirements and we seem to behave as if all we have to do is to extend piping to wherever we want to cover the availability of natural gas.
This is similar to our attempts to solve the economic crisis by printing more and more bank notes! We just do not hear the all important word "conservation" without which we are really doomed.
Even if we can import natural gas, it will be at international rates, which are much, much, higher than our already unaffordable gas prices. Even Iran is talking of $8 per MMBTU for the gas pipeline project vs our present industrial gas tariff of just over $4 per MMBTU.
The above data again highlight our serious energy challenge, since we seem to be doing nothing to solve the basic problem we just do not have enough resources to continue with our present wasteful ways!
As only Allah can give wisdom to people taking such decisions. It is really unfortunate that not even the electric power regulating authority intervenes in such suicidal action. But then, what can you expect from our regulating authority if you find them approving the most inefficient of combined cycle power plants in Karachi (only 44% efficient vs the standard design with 30% higher efficiency) or approving of new power plants at nearly cent 10 per kWh (wind power)
Most of these buildings are built with no Energy Efficiency Code in consideration and with the most inefficient electrical and mechanical (aircond.) systems and obviously, no building approval authority has any knowledge, or concern, of actual energy usage!
The whole world has been ensuring "greening" of Buildings, specially for the last ten years or so (of course, the Gulf area/Middle East is an exception) and we are actually encouraging inefficient buildings which consume enormous energy (both electrical and natural gas for airconditoners).
Even if we had ensured action on the Pakistan Building Code (finalised by Ministry of Housing and Works some 18 years back), we would have now conserved considerable amounts of energy, being presently wasted at the cost of national progress and prosperity.
Small step are being taken by the ASHRAE Pakistan Chapter which has arranged a Presentation on "Green Guide" (in the PC Hotel on Saturday, May 27, free registration) but Energy Conservation must be ensured and committed at the highest level.
It is unfortunate that in the present Energy Challenge, one just does not hear of any attempt to conserve energy. Common sense clearly indicates that we just do not have the resources to afford the high cost of energy and yet there is no directive to avoid waste.
Whether it is transportation or industrial processes or personal comfort we are totally lost! We see big cars and buses and trucks moving at high speeds (most inefficient modes), we witness wasteful industrial processes (specially for the production of steam and hot water) and we experience most ludicrous low temperature air-conditioning (even popular TV ads show 16/18 0C set temperatures on air-conditioners).
We urgently need a sensible Energy Policy, similar to President Carter's many years back in the US. That policy limited high speeds on highways, enforced cogeneration (this word was coined at that time) for industrial steam generation and air-conditioning and room temperature setting not below 24 0C for summer cooling!
Are we still asleep as the water rises to dangerous levels or is some action actually being taken to save the country from the coming energy crisis? Conservation is the only option!