Energy crisis: symposium suggests reconsidering rental power as an option

The federal government should reconsider rental power as an immediate option to meet the widening gap of the current energy crisis across the country. The experts on energy recommended at the 22nd Multi topic International Symposium organised by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan.
The theme was "Looming Power Crisis in Pakistan" says a statement. Experts who discussed the on-going power issue in five technical sessions of the symposium recommended countering the severe energy crisis faced by the country there is need to take immediate steps on short-term basis by the respective quarters, which included; the private sector must come forward immediately with the objective to fill the gap between supply and demand of energy.
FOLLOWING ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS:
-- An aggressive approach must be adopted towards energy conservation by all sections of the society, in particular the government, as it is the quickest and the most cost-effective measure to counter energy crisis.
This on one hand includes using energy efficiently and on the other hand curtailing its wastage. (Waste Not, Want Not)
-- The regulatory authorities, such as Nepra and Ogra, must be more vigilant on the government policy implementation by the public utility companies.
-- Pro-active and regular education and training programmes for trade and industry must be put in place urgently [by organisations such as Enercon to address issues such as use of inefficient re-wound motors and transformers, use of high efficiency motors (of above 85 percent) and energy conservation.
-- Measures must be adopted to overcome energy crisis in the long run; firstly, the hydroelectric power potential of the country must be fully utilised and construction of large dams must start without delay.
-- Secondly, the country's proven coal reserves must be fully exploited to produce much required energy.
-- Thirdly, a meaningful action plan must be put in place for developing the renewable energy sector through the following steps;
-- Identification of Bio-Diesel as one of the cost-effective electric power generation sources.
-- Establishment of Bio-Diesel Society of Pakistan at the earliest, to promote Bio Diesel.
-- Preparation of Bio-Diesel Vision of Pakistan by end of 2007 (Land-Cultivation-Harvesting-Oil- Bio-Diesel etc).
-- Create a group of interested engineers working on Geo-thermal as a contact group
-- Open a sub-chapter of wind electrical power in WEEP.
-- The recently publicised matter of Power Relief Gift offer of UAE government to government of Pakistan for 2X350 MW capacity turbines is to be addressed through IEEEP platform to Secretary Ministry of Water and Power for its resolution on top priority basis.-PR