Speakers for exploiting indigenous energy resources for socio-economic development of Pakistan   

Speaking at 10th Power Generation Conference with the theme “the next emerging challenge, sustainability and growth in power generation” organized by Energy Updates in collaboration of other partners, they said energy was considered lifeline instrument for socio-economic development of the country.

They were of the views that Pakistan had great potential of energy generating resources including coal, hydel, wind, solar and biomass which needed to be tapped.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Planning and Development Commission Shoaib Ahmed Saddiqui said the energy demand always increased with increasing population of the country. The incumbent government had done a lot in power generation sector and now transmission capacity was being enhanced.

He said many investors were coming to invest in the energy sector of Pakistan. He urged the business community to come forward and join hands to provide affordable and clean energy to the consumers. Terming the conference encouraging, the Secretary expressed the hope that the organizers would continue this practice for finding amicable solution to ever increasing energy demand.

Appreciating the organizers, he emphasized for holding more such conference to create awareness among the masses about energy issues. Shoaib Ahmed also stressed the need for water-integrated plan to construct small hydro projects which could easily be exploited.

Chief Marketing Officer Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) Brig ® Tariq Lakhair said Pakistan was blessed with tremendous potentials of indigenous energy resources and it had 7th largest coal reserves in the world. He said Thar Block II could alone generate 5,000 megawatt (MW) electricity for next 50 years.

He said 80 per cent work on Thar Coal power plant had already been completed and its first unit would start generation by December 2018. He said unfortunately in past, mafia created hurdles in exploiting indigenous resources.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director (MD) Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Shah Jehan Mirza pointed out that energy was engine of economic growth of any country.

He said efforts were being made to provide clean, affordable and sustainable energy to the consumers. On generation side, over 10,000 MW power had already been added to the national grid system during the last five years, he added. Shah Jehan said per capita consumption of electricity in Pakistan was 1/5th of average per capita consumption of electricity in rest of the world.

“This means we have to supply more electricity to raise standard of living of our people,” he said. He said Pakistan should go for a wiser fuel mix using all its indigenous energy resources including coal, hydroelectricity, and renewable means to produce electricity on a sustainable basis.

He said PPIB had facilitated completion of new energy projects in private sectors capable of 8,200 MWs electricity. He said by the year 2021, PPIB would ensure completion of private sector power projects having potential of producing 15,000 MWs power. He said coal power projects were being set up under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which were considered most efficient power plants in the world with 62 per cent efficiency.

He said PPIB was facilitating private contractors and investors in energy sector.  He said the government had not only devised a national electricity plan for first time but also announced national electricity generation policy.

Managing Director Siemens (Pakistan), Helmut Von Struve said affordable energy would be foundation of social and stable Pakistan.

He was of the view that energy landscape had gradually been changing to renewable energy (RE). He said Siemens Pakistan is technology partner in ditigization with Pakistan energy sector. Prof Dr Faiz Chaudhary narrated the power sector challenge and their way forward. He said we must follow the right path to get out of the power crisis.

He was of the views that after dis-bundling of WAPDA, codes and policy guidelines were not followed in order to provide affordable and reliable electricity.

Speaking in the conference, Acting German Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Jens Jokisch said Germany and Pakistan had massive potential to collaborate with each other in the renewable energy sector as this collaboration would go a long way in resolving energy crisis of the latter on a sustainable basis. He said the German energy model posed an excellent example for Pakistan for adoption as Germany swiftly overcome its power crisis by maximizing power generation through renewable means while gradually lessening reliance on conventional means of power generation that harm the environment.

He said that Germany once faced similar challenge as currently being encountered by Pakistan in the energy sector. “We transformed our energy sector to increase sustainability of the power being supplied toour people.

We changed our energy mix as we turned towards renewable energy and other innovative technologies,” he said. He said that during favourable weather conditions, renewable energy accounted for up to 90 per cent power produced in Germany. He said that Germany was going to shut down all its nuclear power plants by the year 2022 under its drive to promote use of clean and renewable energy for power production.

He said that Pakistan should exploit the option of doing renewable energy projects of hybrid nature so to utilize maximum potential of wind and solar power available across the country. He said RE was fast expanding across the globe and private sector could also play a crucial role in it.

He said Pakistan has a huge potential of RE including wind, solar and biomass and tapping of it would help cope with energy problems. CEO Star Hydro Waqar Ahmed said all future energy policies must have backing of all stakeholders. He pointed out that hydel was suitable solution to cheap electricity.

He said the country’s economy would directly benefit from hydel generation and it would also help contribute to the development of the area.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman LNG Pakistan Ltd Dr Manzoor Ahmed said Pakistan had lost around $ 100 billion on account of energy crisis. He said an amount of $ 2-3 billion could be saved annually by converting furnace power plants on RLNG.

Earlier In his welcome address, Chairman Organizing Committee and Managing Editor Monthly Energy Update Magazine, Muhammad Naeem Qureshi thanked all the distinguished guests and said the conference has been regularly organizing for the last 9 years.

He said the conference has valuable role to devise better strategies for future energy need. Later, speaking at the concluding session, Chief Executive Officer of Alternative Energy Development Board Amjad Ali Awan said Pakistan’s renewable energy production has jumped to 1568 MWs excluding hydroelectricity as identification of five more wind corridors in Balochistan could add several more thousand megawatts of clean energy to the national grid.

The AEDB chief said RE production would increase to 1870 MWs by the end of current year. “If Denmark has set the target to stop consumption of fossil fuels by 2050 then Pakistan has all the potential of RE to set a similar target,” said the AEDB chief. Later, mementos were presented to the speakers.