Energy Crisis in Pakistan
Originally Published on The Engineering Post (August,2022). Reupload on Medium by the Author itself. Read it on Engineering Post article August.
Pakistan is a developing country in South Asia. The country ranks fifth in terms of population. Despite having one of the biggest economies in the world, it is vulnerable for a number of reasons. Uranium, renewable energy (hydropower, wind, solar, wood, etc.), and fossil fuels are all available as energy sources in Pakistan (coal, gas, and oil). Natural gas is the most frequently used fuel in Pakistan for energy production. This source accounts for about 27.7% of total electricity generated. Hydropower, which supplies 26.9% of the nation’s total electricity demand, ranks second in terms of contribution. Currently, the country receives 9,677 megawatts from IPPs, 4,635 megawatts from government-owned thermal power plants, and 1,060 megawatts from hydropower (Independent Power Producers).
Energy difficulties are nothing new in Pakistan. There was a 7000 Megawatt electrical shortage in the nation in 2011. Numerous factors, including insufficient maintenance of power plant production, distribution networks, theft, and a lack of system upgrades, have contributed to the nation’s energy crisis. Natural gas, the second-largest significant fuel source in the country after biofuels, is also getting harder to come by. The majority of the poor’s heating needs are met by natural gas because they occasionally lack access to electricity or other energy sources.
For several reasons, Pakistan is quite concerned about the energy issue. The principal energy source (fossil fuel) will run out in five or six decades. It’s equally important to find alternatives to fossil fuels. Electrical energy is the most suitable replacement for fossil fuels since it is a renewable, clean, and far more dependable source of energy.
The reports state that a number of factories have been closed due to a scarcity of coal, gas, and oil. Due to the growing shortfall, load shedding is occurring in several areas of the country for 10 to 12 hours each day in the hot weather. Load shedding, however, lasts longer than 12 hours in locations with significant line losses.
