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POWER RESOURCES
Power or energy is a physical quantity that describes the amount of work that can be done by a force.
There are two types of power resources:
• Renewable resources: can be reused or recycled e.g., water and wind
• Non-renewable resources: cannot be reused or recycled e.g., coal, mineral oil, natural gas. These
are in limited amount because they take a long time to be replenished
COAL
• Coal is formed by the decomposition of plants in the presence of heat after millions of years.
• There are 5 types of coal, depending on the content of carbon
➢ Peat: 10 -20 % carbon and rest is ash and moisture
➢ Lignite: 20 – 30 % carbon and rest is ash
➢ Sub-bituminous: 30 – 40 % carbon and rest is ash
➢ Bituminous: 50 – 70 % carbon and rest is ash
➢ Anthracite: 70 – 90 % carbon and rest is ash

Types of Coal Characteristics

Anthracite Best quality coal, hardest with the highest hydrocarbon content, Burns quietly
with great heat.
Bituminous 1. A superior black, hard coal found in highly compressed seams. Burns readily
1. Steam Coal with great heat. Its hydrocarbon content is less than that of anthracite
2. Coking coal 2. Coking coal is burnt to produce coke, a hard, grey, porous material. It is used
in blast furnaces for the extraction of iron from iron ore.
Lignite It is a lower quality coal with a high moisture and ask content. It has low heating
value
Peat Exclusively vegetative matter and represents the initial stage of coal formation.
Its carbon content is low.

• In Pakistan the quality of coal is inferior, that is why it cannot be used in major industries and
thermal power plants.
• Thar desert is having the fourth largest reserve of coal in the World, but it is not of high quality.
• Sharig, Balochistan is the only area where anthracite and bituminous quality is present which is
used in steel and iron industry which is located at Karachi
Describe the distribution of coal in Pakistan (3-4 marks)
• Deposits of coal are widespread in Pakistan.
• Mainly found in northern part of Balochistan, e.g., Sor, Quetta
• In South Western Sindh e.g., Sonda, Jhimpir etc. In the South-Eastern Sindh, in Thar desert.
• It is also found in northern Punjab e.g., Salt Range.
• It is found in KPK in Hangu and Makarwal
Coal producing regions in Pakistan
• Salt Range coalfields - Punjab - Dandot and Pidh– type sub-bituminous and lignite. It is mostly used
in Brick kilns, some in cement industry
• Makarwal coalfields - KPK – Charat – sub-bituminous. Used in Brick kilns, cement and ceramic
industry
• Quetta coalfields - Balochistan – (Sharig coal or coking coal), Sharig coal is the best in Pakistan.
• Sor Range, Mach, Khost and Harnai. Balochistan – sub-bituminous.
• Lower Sindh coalfields - Sindh – Lakra (north of Hyderabad), Jhimpir (South of Hyderabad) and
Sonda (near Thatta) – lignite. These are small mines.
• Thar coalfields - Sindh – lignite – largest coal reserves of the country. Around 175 billion tones out
of 185 billion tones coal in Pakistan is in Thar which accounts 94% of the total coal reserves of
Pakistan.

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Coal Gasification
• It is a process in which coal is heated in the presence of steam and oxygen to produce coal gas
which is a mixture of carbon monoxide, Hydrogen and methane.
Advantages of Gasification of coal
• Transportation is easy through pipelines
• Environment-friendly as compared to coal
• More powerful to produce heat as compared to coal
How is Coal transported from coalmine to end-user?
• After the extraction of coal from coal mine through conveyer belts and by using donkeys as an
underground transport, the coal is taken out of mines
• The coal is already crushed in the process of extraction
• Then its qualities are separated and sold to the middleman
• Middleman loads it into trucks and supplies it to the brick kilns and cement industries where it is
used as fuel. If the coal is supplied to Thermal Power Station, rail transport is also used
Organizations for the extraction of Coal
• Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (Balochistan and Sindh)
• Punjab Mineral Development Corporation
Uses or Sectoral consumption of Coal
• Brick Kiln 60.4%, Cement 37.30%
• Households and thermal power 2.30%
Reasons for coal being used mainly in Brick Kilns
1. Pakistan has poor quality coal which cannot be used in thermal
power stations and other major industries without processing
which is expensive, so used in brick kiln which doesn’t need any
processing.
2. Coal is cheap as a fuel than gas and petroleum
3. Coal is easily available because the fuel intensive sectors such as thermal power plants and
industries rely on natural gas or furnace oil.
Why Coal is a preferred source of power in near future?
• New reserves are discovered in recent years; Pakistan has 7508 million tonnes of coal reserves in
Thar desert and in Salt Range. Now coal reserves are many times greater than natural gas and oil.
• Pakistan spends large amount of foreign exchange to import oil every year. Due to the increasing
oil price, the authorities have considered the use of indigenous coal as an alternative source of fuel
• Now coal is used in much of the cement industry because it is even cheaper than natural gas
Why most of the coal mined in Pakistan is called “low-quality”?
• Most coal reserves of Pakistan are either lignite or sub-bituminous which is low quality coal as it
has less amount of carbon, so it produces less heat
• It has more amount of sulphur and moisture, so it produces more ash and smoke
Why does Pakistan import coal every year?
• The coal reserves in Pakistan are of low quality which cannot be used in industries and power plants
without processing
• Processing of coal is expensive and requires new technology that cannot be afforded by Pakistan
due to its weak economic conditions
• The coal reserves are mainly present in underdeveloped areas that lack infrastructure., e.g., roads,
rail, electricity, water supply etc. So, extraction is not easy
• Pakistan usually imports coking coal which is pure carbon and produces much heat and is used in
steel mills and other major industries
Disadvantages of importing coal on the economy of Pakistan
• Value of imports increases than the value of exports, so negative balance of trade
• Government has to spend huge amount on the purchase of coal, which leads to loss of foreign
exchange or savings

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• If savings are less, the government cannot start developmental projects, e.g., construction of new
roads, hospitals, schools and provision of basic necessities (electricity, natural gas, sanitation and
clean water supply) to rural areas
• Government has to impose heavy taxes on people to generate revenue
• Debts are increased because government has to take loans from other countries to initiate
developmental projects
• Others countries interference increases in political decisions of Pakistan
Uses of Coal in the Iron and Steel industry
• Coal is heated and converted into coke (a harder substance consisting of nearly pure carbon)
• The coke is combined with iron ore and limestone
• Then the mixture is heated to extract the iron from iron ore
• Different gases are emitted during the formation of coking coal and these are used in making
fertilizers, solvents, pesticides and in pharmaceutical industries

THAR POWER GENERATION PROJECT

Environmental losses Economic Gains

• It is not advisable to build coal fired power • Experts claim that to overcome the current
plants close to River Indus as they are the energy crisis, Pakistan has no other
largest source of fly ash and mercury alternative except development of
pollution falls into nearby rivers where it indigenous energy resources
builds up in fish • Thar coal fields have estimated lignite
• People who routinely eat mercury-polluted reserves of 175 billion tons that could be
fish can suffer brain damage and nervous utilized to produce 100,000 MW of power for
system disorders, particularly young 200 years
children. • Furthermore, there is so much coal that it can
• Fly ash causes severe problems, like lower even be exported to India
crop yield, respiratory disorders in humans • General consumers could get electricity at
and livestock much cheaper rate than what they are paying
• It also contaminates groundwater with toxic right now
salts and metallic contents • import of expensive oil will be reduced and
we can save billions of dollars by using
Pakistan’s own coal.

MINERAL OIL
• Mineral oil is also known as Black Gold
• It is non-metallic mineral and an energy resource
• It is formed by the decomposition of marine or vegetative matter or underground plants

What is meant by ‘Oil Trap’ and why this feature is called so?
• Oil and gas are found in dome-shaped anticlines between
two layers of non-porous rocks.
• The oil is trapped in the anticline with gas above and water
below.
• This feature is called Oil Trap because oil is trapped
between layers of non-porous rocks.
What is Oil prospecting?
• Searching of oil is called Oil prospecting
• It requires scientific and modern equipment

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• First detailed geological survey of the area is done with the help of vibrator trucks, scanners and
taking rock samples
• Secondly, a fairly accurate sketch of the underground rock structure is drawn up
• Thirdly, drilling is done.

How Oil is extracted?

• Oil is extracted by drilling
• A derrick /oil rig (big steel structure) is set up for drilling
• It holds the drilling pipes and other equipment which has
drilling bit in front
• Drilling bit is made up of a very hard metal or diamonds
are studded in it to make holes in the hardest rocks
underground
• Crude oil comes out with natural pressure in most of the
cases which is trapped with natural gas and water, so in
most cases first natural gas comes out
What is meant by Oil Field?
A large area which has oil reserves, such as Lower Sindh Oil field
What is meant by Oil well?
A specific place from where oil is extracted in oil field, e.g., Tut, Meyal Oil wells in Potwar Oil Field.
What is meant by Oil Refinery?
• An oil refinery is a factory or mill where crude oil is processed or refined into more useful products.
• There are five oil refineries in Pakistan to refine crude oil both drilled in PAKISTAN and imported.
Location of oil refineries and reasons why these were set up
1. Pakistan Refinery and National Refinery.
• Both are located in Karachi. These are established there because Pakistan does not have much
oil reserves, so Pakistan imports crude oil, hence coastal location of Karachi was the best for
making oil refinery to refine the imported crude oil.
• It is also cheap to import crude oil and refine it locally for domestic and industrial use than to
import refined products.
• Crude oil from Lower Sindh oil fields is also refined in Karachi oil refinery.
• The demand of oil is very high because Karachi has huge population and industrial set up.
• Karachi also has thermal power plants which need furnace oil, so demand of oil is high.
2. Attock Oil Refinery is located on the Potwar Plateau at Morgah, Rawalpindi.
• It refines oil from local or Potwar plateau oil fields for Upper Punjab and KPK.
• Products of oil refinery are used to meet the demand of surrounding areas such as North
Punjab, e.g., Islamabad and adjoining areas of KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
3. Mahmood Kot Oil Refinery or PARCO Oil Refinery is located in Southern Punjab in Sindh Sagar
Doab.
• It refines imported crude oil that is supplied to it by a pipeline from Karachi port.
• Its products are sent to adjoining areas such as Mehmood Kot, Multan, Central Punjab, Lower
& Upper Indus Plain.
4. Hab Refinery, Balochistan refines crude oil supplied by a pipeline from Karachi and tankers which
are handled at Hab.
• Its products are used by surrounding areas such as Han Industrial Estate.
Main uses of oil in Pakistan
Oil has 4 main uses in Pakistan
1. Motor fuel (in cars, trucks, motor cycles, aircrafts, trains, ships)
2. Lubricant for machines
3. Source of power
• To generate thermal electricity

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• For heating
4. By-products of oil for domestic and industrial uses:
• Wax • Insecticides
• Plastics • Bitumen for roofing, road surfacing
• Synthetic rubber and water proofing
• Detergents • Furnace oil
• Pharmaceutical products • Paraffin
Transportation of imported and local Petroleum
Oil is imported from oil producing countries, e.g., Saudi Arabia and UAE, by ships called tankers. From
these countries, the oil tankers travel through the Persian Gulf and then the Arabian Sea to reach the
Kemari Port or Port Qasim. The oil tanker is berthed or anchored at specified oil pier (a special
platform with oil-handling system). The oil (crude or refined) is pumped from the tanker to the storage
tanks of the refineries and the oil marketing companies.
Transportation of crude oil within Pakistan
• Crude Oil is pumped into pipelines from oil tankers on the coast to nearby oil refinery.
• Pak-Arab Oil Refinery Company (PARCO) has constructed pipelines from Karachi port to PARCO’s
mid-country refinery located at Mehmood Kot (near D.G Khan) for transportation of crude oil.
• From here the refined oil is transported to the upper and mid-country areas
Transportation of Refined Oil within Pakistan by WOPP
• PARCO launched a White Oil Pipeline Project (WOPP) in 2002 to carry refined oil from Karachi to
the central and Northern regions of Pakistan, which consume 60% of the petroleum of Pakistan.
• Bin Qasim port is the initial point of WOPP where the refined products are unloaded from the
ships into the pipelines to transport it to central and upper regions.
• This new pipeline carries refined oil from the Pak Oil Refinery at port Qasim to Mahmood Kot in
district Muzaffargarh.
Importance of the WOPP & other pipelines to the development of Pakistan
• Faster method of oil transport through pipeline
• WOPP carries refined oil, so it frees the existing pipeline for crude oil transport
• It meets the increasing demand for oil and it attracts investment in inland areas
• This project has increased industrialization
• Has created job opportunities in many areas of the country, so contributing to the economic
welfare of the people and the country.
Transportation of Oil on land
Oil is transported in three ways:
1. By pipeline
2. By rail tanker
3. By road tanker.
Advantages and Disadvantages of transporting oil by pipelines
• Most efficient, convenient and cheapest mode of transportation. It is environment friendly, saves
time, money and labor. It ensures constant supply and connect oil fields and wells directly with
oil refineries
• However, initial cost is high. There is risk of leakage and terrorist activities. It is difficult to lay
down pipelines in mountainous areas. Also, only one product is sent at a time. After certain
distances pumping stations are built to maintain pressure for long distances, which costs a lot.
Advantages and disadvantages of transporting oil by rail tankers
• This mode of transportation is economical because different products can be transported at one
time, e.g., diesel and petrol can be carried at a time in different oil tankers which saves
transportation cost. It supplies oil to more areas than pipelines because of availability of rail tracks
• However, it is time consuming as it is slow in Pakistan, so it is inefficient as compared to pipelines.
It leads to degradation of rail due to heavy weight. It is dangerous as there are chances of theft and
accidents. It doesn’t ensure constant supply.

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Advantages and disadvantages of transporting oil by road tankers

• Provide oil to large number of areas as compared to rail and pipelines due to availability of road
network throughout Pakistan. Different products can be transported. Quicker than rail
transportation. Supply oil in those areas which are not served by pipelines or rail, e.g., mountainous
areas.
• However, transportation is relatively expensive than pipelines and rail. Inefficient as compared to
pipelines. It is dangerous and degradation of road due to heavy weight. There are chances of theft
and accidents. It doesn’t ensure constant supply.
Sectoral consumption of oil
• largest use of oil in Pakistan is in transport.
• Second largest is power generation.
• Third biggest use is in industry and
• government, domestic and agriculture.
Reasons for the import of Petroleum
• Pakistan’s oil reserves are limited
• New reserves require huge money for extraction
• Used as fuel for heating
• Fuel for machines
• Used for electricity generation
• Lubricants for machines
• Used for transport vehicles
• Rapid population growth results in increasing demand of electricity as well as other machines that
make use of oil and oil products
• Rapid pace of industrialization also needs oil for sustained thermal power supply
• Agriculture sector also needs diesel to run tube wells
Importance of oil products in farming and manufacturing
Farming
• Used as fuel for heating
• Fuel for machines, such as tractors
• Lubricants for machines
• Used to make fertilizers for growth of crops
• Used to make pesticides for pest control
Manufacturing
• Used as fuel for heating
• Fuel for machines in the industries
• Used for electricity generation
• Lubricants for machines
NATURAL GAS
• Also referred to as Methane and is a power resource
• Non-metallic mineral
• Mainly consists of methane, ethane, propane and butanes
• Was discovered in 1952 at Sui, Balochistan by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) while drilling in
search of oil
• This gas field is one of the largest in the world
• Used for heating, lighting and in fertilizer and chemical industry
• It is odorless but sulphur is added for safety purpose

Gas pipelines in Pakistan

• Soon after discovery, a pipeline to Karachi was completed to provide cheap fuel to the industrial
city

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• Another pipeline to Multan was completed in 1958 to

supply gas to the thermal power station and fertilizer plant
• This pipeline has been extended to Faisalabad where gas-
fired station has been set up and is further extended to
Lahore
• It was also taken to Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar
• A pipeline also goes to Quetta from Sui
• More gas fields have been discovered as well
Supply of Natural Gas to major cities of Pakistan through
pipelines from Sui in Balochistan

Why is natural gas an easy fuel to extract?

• Drilling equipment covers small area, thus land is available
for other human and economic activities
• There is very little damage to the environment in the extraction of natural gas because no tunnels
or depressions are made
• Pipes are inserted into the ground to take out natural gas which comes out with natural pressure,
therefore, simple machinery (valves, levers and gauges) is set up on the surface
• No large number of workers are required for extraction because natural gas comes out with natural
pressure
• No blasting and removal of forests is required
• Transportation is also easy through pipelines
Why natural gas is an important and cheap fuel in Pakistan?
• Pakistan has huge reserves of natural gas, no need to import, so decreases import bill
• Transportation is easy through pipelines than coal and oil
• Cheaper than other fuels, e.g., oil and coal
• Oil reserves are limited in Pakistan and it has to be imported, so loss of foreign exchange
• Coal mining is not developed and lack of coal processing in Pakistan
• More environment friendly than oil and coal
• Easily converted into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which is important fuel in vehicles
• Can be transported in cylinders, so portable
• Used in Thermal Power Plants for generating electricity
• Important raw material for manufacturing nitrogenous fertilizers
What is LPG?
When natural gas is cooled to a very low temperature, it turns into a liquid. This is called Liquified
Petroleum Gas or LPG. It can be moved from place to place in special cylinders. In mountainous areas
like Murree, Gilgit, Abbottabad where there are no gas pipelines, many people use LPG for heating
and cooking.
Main Natural Gas Fields in Pakistan
Sui Balochistan
Pirkoh Balochistan
Mari Lower Sindh
Meyal Potwar Plateau
Dhurnal Potwar Plateau
Organizations to develop oil and gas resources
• Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP)
• Oil and Gas Development Company limited (OGDCL)
• Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL)
• Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGPL)
• Pak Arab Refinery Company Limited (PARCO)
• Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO)

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• Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan

Supply of Natural Gas:
Natural gas is transported by following ways in Pakistan: by pipeline and in special containers or
cylinders as LPG
Advantages and Disadvantages of transporting gas by pipelines
• Most efficient, convenient and cheapest mode of transportation. It is environment friendly, saves
time, money and labor as less labor required. It ensures constant supply of gas to all major cities
and towns. It also supplies gas to industries and Thermal power stations.
• However, initial cost is high for laying down the pipelines. There is risk of leakage and terrorist
attacks. It is difficult to lay down pipelines in mountainous areas.
Advantages and disadvantages of transporting gas through cylinders
• This mode of transportation is portable because cylinders are available in different sizes. This can
be transported through trucks, and trains to areas which do not have gas pipelines. It helps control
deforestation in mountainous areas where people collect firewood for heating and cooking
purposes.
• However, this mode of transportation is expensive because of fuel consumption of trucks, lorries
and trains. It doesn’t ensure constant supply of gas and large quantities cannot be supplied.
Refilling stations are not widely or commonly available. Moreover, if roads are blocked by rain,
flood, land sliding, snowfall or strikes then it cannot be supplied.
Uses of Natural Gas
• Power is the largest use of natural gas
• Industry, fertilizer and household are respectively second, third and fourth uses of gas
• Other important uses are commercial or office, transport vehicles and cement industry
• Industry in Pakistan that use natural gas as a raw material are fertilizers, cement and chemical
• In homes gas is used for heating and cooking

THERMAL POWER STATIONS AND THERMAL ELECTRICITY

• In Thermal Power Plants, electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal)
• Fuel fuels are burned in thermal power plant to produce heat energy
• This is used to convert water into steam which runs through tubes that are connected to the
turbine to the other end
• Turbines are spun by steam which are connected with turbine rod to generator
• Turbine rod spins in the magnetic field in the generator which produces electricity
• Electricity is sent to the transformer from where electricity is distributed to pylons through
transmission lines and then to different users.

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NUCLEAR ENERGY
• It is non-renewable energy resource and a non-metallic mineral
• Extreme energy is produced by nuclear fission or fusion
• Atomic particles are joined in fusion process and energy is released
• Atomic particles are split in fission process and energy is released
Nuclear Power Plants
• Nuclear Power Plants produce energy in much the same way as the Thermal Power Plants
• Atomic fission or fusion is done in Atomic Reactors to generate heat
• Heat converts water into steam, steam runs through tubes which are connected with turbines to
other end, turbine is spun by steam which is connected with turbine rod to generator
• Turbine rod spins in magnetic field in the generator, and fast spinning of turbine rod in the
magnetic field produces electricity
Deposits of Uranium and Nuclear Power Plants in Pakistan
Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab has uranium deposits
There are three Nuclear Power Plants
1. Karachi Nuclear Power Plant
2. Chashma nuclear Power Plant 1 near Mianwali in Punjab
3. Chashma nuclear Power Plant 2 near Khushab Punjab
Advantages of Nuclear Power Plants
• There is no emission of toxic gases (carbon dioxide) and contributes less than fossil fuels to the
greenhouse effect and acid rain
• Pakistan is already deficient in coal and oil. Natural gas will be exhausted one day. So, nuclear
energy can solve energy problems. A small amount of uranium is capable of producing much
energy, less than half kg of uranium contains 3 million more times energy than the same weight
of coal.
• The chances of accidents in nuclear power stations are very low because it has backup system
which activates in case of accidents
• Pakistan is a developing country which is in the process of industrialization. This energy can speed
up this process.
Disadvantages of Nuclear Power Plants
• It is expensive to build, maintain and to buy its machinery
• Lack of skilled labor to operate the plants
• The fuel rods in reactors produces dangerous rays. People exposed to the rays get cancer, and their
children can be born deformed
• Nuclear waste can remain radioactive for many years. There are problems with reprocessing and
storing nuclear waste.
• Pakistan doesn’t have enough financial resources to build more nuclear power stations as burden
of foreign loan is already crushing our economy.
• Pakistan has enough renewable resources like winds in southern areas, water, light, etc. Instead of
developing nuclear energy, we should rely on renewable resources.
• Lack of technology, so dependency increases on other countries.
• Very tight security is required to protect it from terrorist activities.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES

Alternative energy is defined as “coming from sources that do not deplete natural resources or harm
the environment. The term alternative is used to contrast with fossil fuels, e.g., solar, wind water
which have potential for efficient utilization and are renewable energy resources.
Why it is important for Pakistan to develop renewable energy resources?
OR
Why Pakistan needs alternative resources of energy?
• Less expensive than non-renewable resources

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• Environment-friendly and don’t cause pollution

• Will not be depleted and can be recycled again and again
• Pakistan is a developing country which is in the process of industrialization and its progress and
economic growth is linked to availability of power for industrial, agricultural and domestic
purposes.
• Pakistan is an energy deficient country and each spends a large amount of its foreign exchange
on the import of oil to meet its energy requirements
HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER (HEP)
• Hydro-electric power stations use the force of flowing
water to spin the hydro-turbines
• From a hydro-turbine there is shaft going into the
generator
• When fast flowing water makes the turbine spin
rapidly, the shaft attached to the turbine also spins
rapidly inside a magnetic field in the generator and this
generates electricity
• From generator, electricity is regulated through
transformers and sent through the power or
transmission lines to the required areas

Natural Requirements for the construction of HEP Plant

• It is best developed in the mountainous regions
• Precipitation should be adequate and presence of fast flowing rivers
• Presence of glaciers so that melting of snow provides water to rivers in summers
• There should be steep slope or gradient
Human Requirements for the construction of HEP Plant
• Huge capital to construct dam / power station, transmission lines and to give compensation
money to displaced people of the area where the dam is to be constructed
• Availability of skilled labor
• Availability of Hi-tech machinery

MULTI-PURPOSE DAMS IN PAKISTAN

• Dams that store water for irrigation,
• For industries, household purposes
• For making electricity and for controlling floods
• Examples: Tarbela Dam on River Indus, Mangla Dam on River Jhelum, Warsak Dam on River
Kabul

SMALL DAMS IN PAKISTAN

• Gomal Zam Dam on River Gomal in KPK
• Hub Dam on River Hub in Balochistan
• Khanpur Dam on River Haro in KPK
• Nirani Dam on River Dasht in Balochistan

Advantages of HEP Station

• Environment-friendly and doesn’t create pollution
• No fuel cost because water is used to produce electricity
• Multi-purpose, e.g., stores water for irrigation, industries, household, produces electricity and
controls floods
• Source of earning as it attracts tourists for recreational activities
• Promotes fishing

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Disadvantages of HEP Station

• Cannot be built at any place and only on steep slopes with high gradient, e.g., mountains
• Initial cost of construction is very high
• Construction time is too long, e.g., 5 – 10 years
• Several villages and towns are submerged, so large number of people are displaced and their
rehabilitation requires huge money
• Reduction in the downstream flow which shrinks delta and also damages mangrove forests, as a
result fishing industry is affected
• Damage to natural environment and habitat of valleys because very wide valley is required for
making large reservoir of dams
• It also affects the tourism industry because it damages the greenery
Kalabagh Dam (Controversial Project)
• People of Sindh argue that the water availability for Sindh would be further reduced after the
construction of this dam as the water stored in the Kalabagh reservoir might be used to irrigate
farmlands in Punjab and KPK
• There would be less water so Delta would be decreased, as a result mangrove forests will be
affected
• It would also reduce the flow of River Indus downstream at Kotri Barrage near Hyderabad causing
more water shortages in canal irrigation areas of Sindh
• Important agricultural areas of KPK will be submerged in water, e.g., Noshera
Comparison between Thermal Power Plants and HEP
• Thermal Power plants can be made at any place where fossil fuels are available, but HEP have
certain physical and climatic requirements for their development
• HEP has huge construction cost, whereas Thermal plants has lesser construction cost
• HEP takes longer time to be built than Thermal plants
• HEP produces cheaper per unit electricity than thermal power plant
• Fossil fuels cause pollution when they are burnt and are not environment friendly, whereas HEP
referred to as White Coal and is environment friendly
• Thermal power station’s running cost is high because fossil fuels are imported, whereas HEP
running costs are low because electricity is produced by water
SOLAR ENERGY
• The energy of sunlight is used heating and for generating electricity
• Solar cells or Photovoltaic Cells collect sun rays and convert them into electric energy
• Solar furnaces are giant mirrors to focus the sun rays on a boiler, which convert water into steam.
Steam from the boiler turns the turbine to produce electricity
• Solar panels also collect heat energy from the sun
Advantages of Solar Energy
• Environment-friendly and doesn’t create air and water pollution
• Limitless supply of electricity because it is a renewable resource
• Cheaper than thermal power
• Suitable for those areas where HEP stations and Thermal Power stations are not present
• Can produce electricity even in less sunlight
• Maintenance cost is low
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
• Initial cost of Solar Plant is very high
• Less efficient in those areas where cloudy days are more
Potential of Solar Energy in Pakistan
• In most parts of Pakistan, there are 250-300 sunny days in a year
• Continuous cloudy days are also rare
Why Solar Energy Plants are not common in Pakistan?
• Most of the solar panels are still on experimental basis

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• No proper policy by the government for the development of solar energy

• Lack of funds, research and technology
Why Pakistan needs Solar Energy?
• To prevent the present energy crisis
• To lessen the burden on natural gas because it is used in Thermal Power Plants
• To reduce the import of furnace oil because it is used in Thermal Power Plants
• To support agriculture by running tube wells through solar energy
Importance of Solar Energy in rural areas of Pakistan
• Tube wells can run for irrigation through solar energy
• Machinery can operate in small-scale industries and cottage industries
• Storage of crops, fruit, vegetables and dairy products by providing electricity for refrigerators
Importance of Solar Energy in urban areas of Pakistan
• Street lights can be lit
• Traffic signals can be operated
• Electronic billboards can be operated
• Education and health institutions can get cheap electricity
• Less burden on HEP and Thermal Power Stations, so electricity and shedding would be reduced
WIND ENERGY
• It is a renewable energy resource in which wind is used to generate electricity
• Wind mills and wind pumps convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power
Advantages of Wind Energy
• Environment-friendly and doesn’t create air and water pollution
• Renewable and never depletes
• Can be utilized independently and developed locally in rural and remote areas of Pakistan
• The locations far away from National Grid System are suitable for generating wind electricity
• Wind farms are interesting features of landscape attracting tourism
• Wind farms provide a source of income for farmers as land under wind poles can be used as
pastures
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
• Wind farms are expensive to build
• The strength of the wind is not constant and varies from zero to storm force. Thus, it doesn’t
produce same amount of electricity all the time
• Wind turbine can kill birds and bats, thus disturbing the ecosystem balance
• Wind farms can be developed only in coastal areas and mountainous regions with high wind
speeds
Potential of Wind Energy in Pakistan
• The coast of Pakistan is about 1000 kilometers long. High wind is available nearly all year round
in these areas. It is observed that the annual wind speed in Balochistan (Ormara, Jivani and Pasni)
and Karachi is such that it can be used to generate electricity.
• Northern mountains receive permanent winds with good strength
Why Wind Energy Plants are not common in Pakistan?
• Lack of government interest
• Lack of funds, research and technology
• No data is available for wind speed and its strength which may attract investors
• No incentives to foreign and local investors
• No marketing about the potential of wind powering Pakistan so that foreign investors may invest
How can Wind Energy help in development of coastal areas?
• Fish processing industry can get boost as refrigeration facilities can be provided
• Ports can get electricity for various functions, e.g., lighting, security cameras, heating, cooling and
computers can be operated
• Electricity for household purposes

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GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
• It is a renewable energy resource geothermal power (Geo means earth and thermal means heat)
is energy derived from the heat of the Earth’s core
• It is produced from earth’s heat absorbed in underground water
• The holes are drilled into the land to pump out hot water
• This hot water or steam is used to drive turbines to produce electricity
Advantages of geothermal Energy
• Provides constant supply
• Relatively pollution free
• If properly developed, it can offer renewable and sustainable energy
Disadvantages of geothermal Energy
• High cost of construction of a geothermal power station
• Its maintenance is difficult as it requires experts and machinery
• Can be developed in particular regions where hot water or volcanic activities are found
underground (site restriction)
• Earthquakes or eruption of lava can damage the geothermal power plant
• Geothermal power stations tend to spoil the natural beauty of the place and affect tourism
Potential of Geothermal Energy in Pakistan
• Regions of Himalaya and Hindu Kush Mountain ranges have great tectonic plate movement and
volcanic activity, so these are high potential areas to produce geothermal energy
• The area around Chaghai Hills is also active in terms of volcanic and tectonic plate activity
WAVE POWER
• It is a renewable energy resource
• Sea or ocean waves are used to produce electricity
• Wave motion can be used to compress air to drive a turbine to generate electricity
• Waves make water rise and fall so wind or air is produced in specific chamber
• This wind/air forces turbine to move back and forth
• Turbine is connected to generator, so electricity is produced
Advantages of Wave Energy
• Renewable energy resource
• Pollution free
• Can produce ample amount of energy as waves have exceptionally high energy levels
Disadvantages of Wave Energy
• Very expensive to build because the technology needed is not widely
• It depends on waves, sometimes there is loads of energy and sometimes nothing
Potential of Wave Energy in Pakistan
• Pakistan has about 1000 km long coastline
• The Sindh coast and Makran coast have strong wave energy which could be harnessed for the
generation of electricity for rapidly developing coastal cities of Gwadar, Ormara, Pasni and Jivani
TIDAL POWER
• It is a renewable energy resource of producing electricity by using the movement of tides
• Tidal movements are to drive turbines to generate electricity
• Due to the gravitational pull of moon and sun two times high tides and two times low tides are
produced every 24 hours
Advantages of Tidal Energy
• Provides constant supply,
• Pollution free,
• and if properly developed, it can offer renewable and sustainable energy
Disadvantages of Tidal Energy
• Very expensive to build because the technology which is needed, is not widely available
• Would destroy important wildlife habitat

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• Could disrupt local shipping

Potential of Tidal Energy in Pakistan
• The power resource of Indus Deltaic Creek System is a great asset for future energy supply in
Sindh. The water flows in these creeks with high velocity which is a favorable requirement for the
extraction of energy from tidal power
BIOMASS
• It is a renewable energy resource to produce electricity by using organic material of plants and
vegetable matter, both living and decaying
• Examples of biomass fuel are trees and grasses, agricultural residues like used vegetable oils,
wheat straws, corn, sugar beets, grains, sugarcane, wood waste like paper trash, livestock and
municipal waste etc.
• Gas is produced by the fermentation process in the underground tanks and energy is produced
through this gas pressure.
Advantages of Biomass Energy
• Renewable and inexpensive way to produce energy
• Promotes agriculture because crops are used for producing biomass, e.g., sugarcane or corn
• Good alternative energy where natural gas is not available
Disadvantages of Biomass Energy
• Causes severe indoor air pollution leading to adverse health effects such as lung and chest
infections
• Causes shortage of natural manure
Biomass Energy in Pakistan
• The village women make patties of cow-dung, straw and clay to dry and use as home cooking fuel
BIOGAS
• Biogas is produced from animal and plant waste
• A small structure constructs the cow dung into clean burning gas, with plenty of material left over
for fertilizers
• Dung is allowed to ferment in ditches or pits, the methane gas which is given off is stored
• It can be used directly for heating, cooking or it can be used to produce electricity
Advantages and disadvantages of Biogas
• It is cheap source of energy, but it means cow-dung can no longer be used for manure. If this
happens on a large scale it will aggravate the deficiency of soil which already lacks organic
nutrients
• It increases air pollution because methane is a greenhouse gas
Biogas in Pakistan
• In Pakistan the use of biogas is not widespread, except for some places in Sindh and Punjab
NATIONAL GRID SYSTEM
National Grid is a network of powerlines, cables or wires and grid stations to transmit electricity from
power stations, e.g., HEP and Thermal stations etc. to areas where electricity is used
Advantages
• Every part of the country receives electricity according to its needs. If any area generates less
electricity than its needs, the shortage is met from other parts of the country
• In case of power failure in a particular area, the loss is compensated instantly from other areas
Disadvantages
• Because of long distances, the transmission and distribution losses of electricity are heavy about
30 %
• The transmission lines are laid at a huge cost and their maintenance also need heavy expenditures
Difficulties to provide electricity on the National Grid System to all the populated areas of Pakistan
• Too costly to extend to all areas
• Poor maintenance is a hinderance
• Some places are very remote

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• Power loss due to long transmission lines

• Not economical to provide electricity to areas of very low population
• Some areas are cut off by high mountains and some are cut off by deserts
• Pakistan has lack f money and has less power stations
Why there is shortage of electricity despite having potential of energy resources?
• Many of the power plants are not working to their full capacity due to financial constraints, lack
of technical expertise and maintenance facilities
• During the winter season the hydel power generation decreases with reduced flow of water in
the rivers.
• The National Grid System supplies electricity to all provinces, so long transmission lines cause
losses of electricity
• Siltation in the reservoirs of dams also causes disruption in electricity generation by reducing the
flow of water
• Power theft occurs on a large scale. E.g., The power from Karachi Electric Supply Corporation
(KESC) was 41%. WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) suffered 21 % losses in
transmission and distribution.
• The high price of fossil fuels increases the cost of electricity generation
• Industrialization, urbanization and rural electrification have increased demand for electricity

ELECTRIFICATION
What is load shedding?
Planned power cut off
Why Pakistan experiences load shedding, power cut off or electricity outages?
• Electricity demand has increased due to increase in population and industries
• Affordability of more electrical appliances e.g., refrigerators, LCDs, air conditioners, so demand is
increased
• Inability of the governments to make policies to meet the future demands and less effort to build
new Thermal or HEP plants
• Construction of large dams have been politicized, so became controversial, e.g., Kalabagh Dam
• Electricity pilferage / theft allows the customer to use more electricity than his affordability, so it
increases the consumption rate than the production rate
• Old equipment causes wastage of electricity
How Pakistan can overcome energy crisis?
• Creating awareness about the conservation of electricity, e.g., use of energy savors lights and
appliances, switching off appliances when no one is in room
• Construction of new dams to generate HEP
• Construction of new Thermal and nuclear power plants
• The development of renewable resources of energy by using advanced technology
• The non-productive use and wastage of power resources must be checked strictly
• Consensus should be made for the construction of large dams e.g., Kalabagh Dam
Uses of Electricity in Industry
• Running machines
• Lights, fans, computers, printers, fax, scanners and photostat machines
• Cooling and heating systems
• Security cameras
Uses of Electricity in Agriculture
• Running tube wells
• Crop drying machines
• Lighting
• Refrigerators for storage of fruit, vegetables and meat
What are the effects of load shedding / electricity outages in industry?

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• Production gets affected as machines stop working

• Deadlines of contracts cannot be met, so reputation of the industry is tarnished
• There is loss of customers and profits, and future business dealings are affected. So, businessmen
face losses in income
• Generators have to be installed, so expenditure increases than profits
• Possibility of closing many small scale and medium industries if they cannot afford generators
How can industries cope with unreliable electricity supply or load shedding?
• Buy generators
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Use biofuel
• Install solar panels
• Use efficient appliances which save energy e.g., energy saver lights and fans
• Use latest machines which have efficient energy saving technology
What is Rural Electrification and what are its benefits to rural areas?
67 % of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas. Providing electricity to rural areas, towns or villages
can prove a milestone in rural development. Rural electrification has many social and economic
benefits.
• Tube wells can be installed for irrigation. This will also help to control waterlogging and salinity.
Consequently, there would be increase in agricultural production.
• Small scale industries can be developed to provide employment and to meet the demand for
industrial goods.
• The standard of living increases as people can use electrical appliances.
• People can receive information through electronic media
• Availability of electricity and telecommunication will help them to have easy access to internet,
radio, TV or telephones
• Political, economic and cultural awareness can take place through electronic media
• Better health facilities can be provided in hospitals by introducing latest machines e.g., X-ray
machine, Physiotherapy, ultrasound
Constraints to Rural Electrification
• Many of the small villages, especially in KPK and Balochistan are far from transmission lines
• The cost of laying and maintaining transmission lines is high and is an extra burden on the country’s
meagre economic resources
• It is not yet economically feasible to provide electricity to very small villages because it is
uneconomical
• Government has set limits that in KPK and Sindh villages with fewer than 1000 people and in
Balochistan fewer than 300 people will not be supplied electricity
To what extent it is feasible to increase electricity supply in rural areas of Pakistan?
It is possible to increase the supply to rural areas if we extend the national grid, more power can be
generated through renewable resources as wind, solar and HEP etc. Some non-renewable resources
as thermal power also can be used. In rural areas as the population is low, biogas plant can also help
providing electricity to 80 houses easily.
However, there are many constraints as Pakistan faces many problems such as power theft, and the
high cost of technology to be provided. The electricity fluctuation or breakdowns due to the siltation
in the reservoirs. There is too much of tribal opposition to provide electricity to the rural areas. There
is also lack of skilled personnel, such as engineers. It is also difficult to construct HEP stations in rugged
and mountainous terrain. Also, there is lack of government support, loans, investment and policies.
Importance of Power Resources for Economic Development
1. All industrial plants, excluding cottage industries use power in processing raw material. Power
shortage reduces production of industrial goods and increases the cost of production which results
in a lower GDP

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2. Modernization of agriculture is also heavily dependent on power resources. Tube wells are run by
electricity and agricultural machinery such as tractors, threshers, and combine harvesters use oil
as a fuel for functioning.
3. Power resources are used in exploration and extraction of metallic and non-metallic minerals.
Mining and drilling machinery such as derricks, bulldozers, drills, and explosives and trucks are are
necessary for mining operations They all need fuel or power to operate.
4. Minerals play a key role in a country’s economic development by providing raw material to
industries and employment opportunities in the mining sector.
5. If power resources are produced locally, the dependence on imported power resources is reduced.
This helps to save foreign exchange resources and improves the balance of payment.
6. Power resources play a key role in the modernization of society. All electrical appliances and IT
devices such as computers, cell phones, TV, radio and many other gadgets run on electricity. In
recent years economic development has become dependent on communication devices which
cannot operate without an efficient power supply.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF POWER RESOURCES
• It means the available power resources are utilized in such a way that these can be used for a long
period of time
• The present need is fulfilled and resource is saved for future generations as well
• Also, use of such method or technology that may not harm the environment
How is sustainable development of power resources achieved?
• Public awareness is created regarding the importance of available resources and about their
wastage
• Modern technology and methods are used to minimize the wastage and effects on environment
• Making effective conservation and preservation policies
• Encouragement and development of alternative / renewable energy resources in place of non-
renewable resources
• Implementation of strict laws on wastage of power resources
• Replacement of faulty transmission or power lines to reduce wastage of electricity
Q To what extent it is important to use maximum land to produce more renewable energy or
to grow food for growing population?

Power Resources by Samira Afzal Syed