Managing energy crisis

This may come across as an oft ignored and overlooked subject, but energy conservation and energy efficiency happened to be two of the most noticeable themes throughout the three-day annual PIDE conference that concluded last week.
Not a lot of people know about energy conservation and energy efficiency; those who know are rather indifferent about the idea. But there seems to be consensus view that together they form the lowest hanging fruits in the resolution of Pakistan’s energy crisis.
According to one industry expert, who excused himself from being cited, Pakistan could unlock up to 5000 MW over five years just through conservation and efficiency. He said that Pakistan is a dumping ground for inefficient technology; and that the government needs to ban inefficient plants and machinery installed in markets and industries; and incentivise their conversion to efficient ones.
Echoing those views, Zargham Khan, Joint Secretary (Power), at the Ministry of Water and Power, told the audience that Pakistan could (on average) unlock about 25 percent of energy just by becoming more efficient
The graph shows sector-wise potential for gaining efficiencies, where gaining efficiency in power sector alone can yield 1500-2000 MW, according to Zargham. The estimated total value of gaining these efficiencies is about $2 billion per year.
As with life, it’s the little things that matter. So if for instance large billboards are converted to solar light or other alternate sources, you can save about 150 MW, or if building codes are implemented for new buildings in the country, 500 MW could be saved on annual basis. Just the standardisation and labelling regime alone can help save “a staggering figure of 1000 MW per annum,” according to Zargham.
But what prevents Pakistan from realising this potential of saving and conservation is inadequate or otherwise lack of relevant legislation. For instance, the National Power Policy has only nine words to say on energy efficiency, according to Tahir Basharat Cheema, former MD Pepco.
Similarly, as Ajaz Ahmed, of Institute for Social and Environmental Transition, pointed out in his paper presented at the conference, that National Housing Policy 2001 has no policy guidelines and recommendations on energy conservation and saving in newly-constructed housing schemes.
Even in cases where the legislation exists, the implementation is poor. Cheema, who was one of the panellists at the conference, highlighted that “Shops and Commercial Establishment ordinance, which deals with closure of shops at 8 p.m, has been accepted, adopted and renewed by provinces”. But we all know it can’t be implemented, because the moment the government starts implementing that law, the public – quite often backed by political parties – will start raising huge hue and cry.
The buck then perhaps stops as much with the public as it does with the government. As Naveed Iftikhar, Governance Specialist at Finance Ministry’s reform unit says, there is a need to build social capital and increase public awareness on these matters.
Note: Today is the first of the many energy related articles that these columns will be covering this week. Those who might incidentally be affected by energy crisis might like to follow these columns and spread the word for a more energy aware Pakistan.