Electricity in Pakistan is generated, transmitted, distributed and retail supplied by two vertically integrated public sector utilities: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for all of Pakistan (except Karachi), and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for the City of Karachi and its surrounding areas. There are around 16 independent power producers that contributes significantly in electricity generation in Pakistan.[1]
For years, the matter of balancing Pakistan's supply against the demand for electricity has remained a largely unresolved matter. Pakistan faces a significant challenge in revamping its network responsible for the supply of electricity.
While the government claims credit for overseeing a turnaround in the economy through a comprehensive recovery, it has just failed to oversee a similar improvement in the quality of the network for electricity supply.
Some officials even go as far as claiming that the frequent power cuts across Pakistan today are indicative of an emerging prosperity as there is fast rising demand for electricity. And yet, the failure to meet the demand is indeed indicative of a challenge to that very prosperity. Pakistan's electricity producers are now seeking a parity in returns for both domestic and foreign investors which indicates it to be one of the key unresolved issues in overseeing a surge in electricity generation when the country faces growing shortages.
Contrary to Pakistani government and expatriate claims, Pakistan suffers from a massive electricity shortage.[2] Electricity generation in Pakistan has shrunk by 50% in recent years due to an overreliance on hydroelectric power.[3] In 2008, availability of power in Pakistan falls short of the population's needs by 15%[4] Pakistan was hit by its worst power crisis in 2007, after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the following riots. Production fell by 6000 Megawatts and massive blackouts followed suit. The blame was laid on the then president, Pervez Musharraf, and was instrumental in his defeat.[4] Load Shedding (deliberate blackouts) and power blackouts have become severe in Pakistan in recent years.[5] The main problem with Pakistan's poor power generation is rising political instability, together with rising demands for power and lack of efficiency.[6]
With power shortages in Pakistan, Iran has been offering to export electricity to Pakistan at subsidized rates but the government of Pakistan has not yet responded to the offers for unknown reasons.[7][8][9][10][11]
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There are four major power producers in country: WAPDA (Water & Power Development Authority), KESC (Karachi Electric Supply Company), IPPs (Independent Power Producers) and PAEC (Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission).
The break-up of the installed capacity of each of these power producers (as of June-2008) is as follows:[13]
WAPDA Thermal
Gas Turbine Power Station, Shahdra 59 MW
Steam Power Station, Faisalabad 132 MW
Gas Turbine Power Station, Faisalabad 244 MW
Gas Power Station, Multan 195 MW
Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh 1350 MW
Thermal Power Station, Guddu 1655 MW
Gas Turbine Power Station, Kotri 174 MW
Thermal Power Station, Jamshoro 850 MW
Thermal Power Station, Larkana 150 MW
Thermal Power Station, Quetta 35 MW
Gas Turbine Power Station, Panjgur 39 MW
Thermal Power Station, Pasni 17 MW
Total Thermal ==> 4811 MW
WAPDA’s Total Hydel + Thermal capacity is ==> 11,272 MW
Karachi Electric Supply Company
Thermal Power Station, Korangi 316 MW Gas Turbine Power Station, Korangi 80 MW Gas Turbine Power Station, SITE 100 MW Thermal Power Station, Bin Qasim 1260 MW
Total (KESC) ==> 1756 MW
Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
Hub Power Project 1292 MW AES Lalpir Ltd, Mahmood Kot Muzaffargar 362 MW AES Pak Gen, Mahmood Kot Muzaffargar 365 MW Altern Energy Ltd, Attock 29 MW Fauji Kabirwala Power Company, Khanewal 157 MW Gul Ahmad Energy Ltd, Korangi 136 MW Habibullah Coastal Power Limited 140 MW Japan Power Generation, Lahore 120 MW Kohenoor Energy Limited, Lahore 131 MW Liberty Power Limited, Ghotki 232 MW Rousch Power, Khanewal 412 MW Saba Power Company, Sheikhupura 114 MW Southern Electric Power Company Limited, Raiwind 135 MW Tapal Energy Limited, Karachi 126 MW Uch Power Limited, Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad 586 MW Attock Gen Limited, Morgah Rawalpindi 165 MW Atlas Power, Sheikhupura 225 MW Engro Energy Limited, Karachi —– MW Kot Addu Power Company Limited (Privatized) 1638 MW
Total (IPPs) 6365 MW
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
KANUPP 137 MW CHASNUPP-1 325 MW
Total (Nuclear) ===> 462 MW
Hydel electricity generated by WAPDA varies between two extremities, i.e., between minimum of 2,414 MW and maximum of 6,761 MW depending upon the river flow.
Total Power Generation Capacity of Pakistan (including all sources) is 19,855 MW and the electricity demand (as of April 2010) is 14,500 MW and PEPCO is merely generating 10,000 MW.
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The current shortfall is 7500 MegaWatts, the table above is an old estimate made in 2008.
In the short run addressing difficult challenges such as the demand for a parity of treatment to both domestic and foreign investors must make some difference by way of attracting investors across the board. Given the growing demand for electricity, foreign investors must have a role in helping Pakistan meet this challenge.
But the challenges faced by Pakistan are by no means easy. It is indeed the case that the business of reforming the electricity supply network is just not about short term and often incomplete measures of the kind that Pakistanis have been accustomed to.
Even if Pakistan successfully set aside the vast funds which are necessary to finance such a turn-around, the time taken to ensure the supply of all the technical ingredients must in itself make the task formidably challenging.
In the environment which prevails across the world today, there is already a considerable line-up of both individuals and countries which have placed orders to buy new equipment. Indeed, Pakistani officials are all too aware of international market conditions which only add to the difficulty surrounding their task.
Though sorting out global market conditions are just not in reach of one country alone, other matters are indeed within Pakistan's grasp. These include the need to turn around popular habits which hardly help to curtail the usage of electricity, with wastages and deliberate inefficiencies being the principal factors. But the lead for such an endeavour must come in part from Pakistani leaders.
During 2010 Pakistan floods and 2005 Kashmir earthquake power stations, power distribution and transmission and other energy infrastructures were damaged. During the floods the recently constructed Jinnah hydroelectric power plant was flooded in addition to severe damages to transmission and distribution network and installations while several power plants and refineries were threatened by rising waters and had to be shut down. Natural gas field output had to be reduced as the flood waters approached the wells. There has also been some concern by Pakistani nuclear activists over the effect of natural disasters on nuclear plants specially over the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex, since the plant lies over a geological fault.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Due to over reliance of Pakistan on dams for electricity generation,[30] some environmental impacts of dams such as submergence of usable/ecological land and their negative impact on Pakistan's mangrove forests due to loss of river silt load, as well as increased risk of severe floods have become evident.[31][32][33][34]
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