Can one imagine the amount of gas being wasted in large central air-conditioning plants when correct technology would have saved up to 40 percent gas? A typical large hospital using our precious and scarce gas for 5,000 tons air-conditioning could have generated up to 4 MW power free of fuel costs if efficient combined heat and power systems had been designed to supply both 5,000 tons air-conditioning and up to 4 MW power load!
A typical industry (textile) generating 15 tons of steam for process could generate 2.5 MW power free of fuel costs if efficient combined heat and power system had been designed instead of conventional boilers for steam generation. The above processes are "normal" installations in Pakistan and literally thousands of such industrial and commercial applications are the real reasons of our energy crisis. God has blessed us with good source of natural gas and if we honestly invest in gas wells, large amount of new discoveries both offshore and in Sindh/KPK are possible. These discoveries could change the entire energy scenario for the better!
To enable economic growth, we need to import gas for the present consumption since no other fuel is really feasible. We are wrongly investing in huge infrastructure for coal imports and unfortunately, China is encouraging us to convert to coal as base fuel for power plants. How wrong this policy can be gauged by the tact that huge industrial zones around Beijing are now planning to reduce their coal-fired power stations and by 2017, many present such power plants will be shut down due to due to enormous environmental damage both in transporting and burning this fuel. How can afford this environmental catastrophe after spending a fortune in developing the infrastructure?
It is hoped that urgent steps will be taken both to import LNG and natural gas through cross-country pipelines. It is important to ensure that natural gas is charged at the correct cost and not subsidised to any sector except the lowest category with strict limit on maximum consumption.
Both CNG for cars and other vehicles and natural gas for industries and commercial buildings as well as gas for fertilisers should be charged at the true costs and only this will ensure efficient utilisation. Our gas companies have enormous responsibilities to ensure efficient gas use and they must take up this challenge in spite of immense political pressures to look the other way.
They need to go back to each installation where gas has been sanctioned on the basis of CHP/Cogen efficiency and really make the owners meet their true obligations to efficiency. There are so many installations where gas was sanctioned for CHP/Cogen as per rules but the owners have been callous and unkind to this country by not following their commitments. Such owners simply do not care how their selfish decisions are affecting our overall economic activities. The answer to our energy crisis must come from efficient utilisation of this clean and safe fuel but who is going to ensure this philosophy? Not our present political decision-makers for sure!