The Pakistani Spectator

“India is facing a power shortage of 70,000 MW” said Lok Sabha, power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, “The potential for hydro power generation in the country was 1.5 lakh MW but merely 20% of it was exploited”, he said.There is a serious misconception prevailing amongst most of people that Pakistan is the only country which is facing Power shortage but if we Google it we will find that, there are also countries that are facing more severe power shortage such as our own shinning India and next super power China.

Especially India is passing through its worst Power crisis. There are cities in India which are facing alarming situation; continuous load shedding in Bangalore has led to diesel shortage as people are using generators. States like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh West Bengal, Haryana are worst hit by this crisis and they are facing electricity shortfall of about 5,000MW, 1,000MW, 2000MW, 1,500MW respectively,. In Maharashtra officials are asking industries to lower their demand by 10% or ready to face forced load shedding. Cities and towns are facing 7 to 13 hours load shedding; one reason is under capacity working of .Dabhol Power plant.

Punjab’s power crisis has been exacerbated because states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, which form the south and western regions of the National Power Grid, are facing shortages themselves and have backed out of an earlier agreement to bank electricity with the PSEB. Far south in Kerala, government has announced 25% power cut for all industrial units. Economic analysts fear that this power breakdown can hit economic growth of the country.

In Assam, a drought like situation leading to poor hydropower generation and a weak distribution network have led to the state facing the worst ever power crises, prompting the state government to approach neighboring states as well as the Himalaya kingdom of Bhutan for power supply.Situation in China which is ready to be next Super power is not so bad but is serious. Chinese officials fear that it can seriously affect Olympic campaign. .According to an official of the State Grid Corporation (SGC) (Beijing).China’s power shortage as of July 15 reached 14 gigawatts.Some analysts are of the view that China is facing at least facing 70 GW electricity shortfall and 13 provinces are mostly affected by this deficit

Experts are saying that the major reason for this power shortage is .forced shut down of smaller power plants that are badly hurt by rising coal prices and low Government controlled electricity rates, as in china mostly electricity is produced by Coal. Coal based generation accounts for 80% of China’s Power generation.

Where is Pakistan????

Compared to India and China, Pakistan is in better position. Pakistan is only facing 3000 to 5000MW electricity shortfall
People criticize Previous Pakistani Government that it failed to add even single Megawatt during their tenure but this is wrong assessment.

In 1999, our installed capacity was merely 15,860 MW. (With Hydel 4826 + Thermal 10,897 + Nuclear 137).In 2005-06, our installed capacity increased to become 20,495 MW. (With Hydel 6499 + Thermal 13,534 + Nuclear 462). The first unit of 290-megawatt of Ghazi Brotha Hydel Project (GBHP) went into operation in June 2003, and contributed around 50mw of electricity to the national grid. Four more units were added every quarter, and by 2004 the GBHP was contributing 1,450 mw.
Three rental power houses would start generating 1,067 megawatts of electricity by end of year 2008, respectively. Agreements had been signed with China to establish power plants at Nandipur and Chichu ki Malian, and tenders had been issued for two 500MW power plants at Dadu and Faisalabad which would be run by gas and furnace oil. An 800MW power plant would be set up at Guddu.

The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) is investing in a new 220-megawatt power plant that will help control the power shortages in the city. The plant has started generating 192MW by March and the remaining 28MW will start being distributed by December 2008.

The Ongoing Power Projects for which allocations were made in 2007-08 Budget, are Mangla Dam Raising Project (Rs 20 billion), Mirani Dam (Rs 500 million), Sabakzai Dam (Rs 200 million), Kurram Tangi Dam (Rs 2.84 billion), Sadpara Multipurpose Dam Rs (900 million), Gomal Zam Dam (Rs 1.8 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase I (Rs 8.5 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase II (Rs 2.5 billion), construction of 20 small dams in NWFP (Rs 870 million), Bhasha/ Diamer Dam (Rs 500 million), Khan-Khawar hydro project (Rs 1.3 billion), Dubir Khawar hydro project (Rs 2.1 billion), transmission arrangements for power dispersal of Ghazi Barotha (Rs 1.67 billion) and Neelam-Jhelum hydro project (Rs 10 billion).

So there is no need to fluster, we can easily take control of this crisis if we complete all these projects in time.