E N E R G Y POTENTIAL OF PAKISTAN

Dr. S. R. Malik*, M. A. Maqbool*

*NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad.
Correspondence Author: drsma@yahoo.com
Abstract: Pakistanis a country gifted with all main natural energy sources butit is facing worst energy crisis of its history. Per capita
primary energy supply of Pakistanis 0.30 Tons Oil Equivalent (TOE) compare to world average of 1.55 TOE. Per Capita Electricity
generation of Pakistanis 581KWH whereas the world average is 2657 KWH. Pakistanhas estimated hy del potential of 46,000 MW
whereas only 6595 MW is produced. There are considerable oil, gas, and coal reserves. The crude oil reserves are estimated at 27
billion barrels including 300 million barrels proven reserves. The level of production is presently 22.6 million barrels compared
with the level of consumption of 100 million barrels. The natural gas reserves are 8 trillion cubic meters including the proven
reserves of 0.8 trillion cubic meters. The level of production is presently 93 million cubic meters per day compared with the level of
consumption of 82 millioncubic meters per day. Pakistan is sixth richest country of the worldin coal reserves. The coal reserves are
185 billion tons including the proven reserves of 3.3 billion tons. The level of production is 4.6 million tons and the level of
consumption is 6.1 milliontons. Pakistanis one of the tendeveloping countries, whichhave nuclear power stations. The two nuclear
power plants of Pakistan are now providing 3.3% of electricity needs of the country. Pakistanhas great potential of alternate energy
like wind, solar, micro-hydel, fuel cell, tidal, biomass and bio gas. There is great potential for wind energy in sindh. Pakistan has
3 000 hours of sunshine a year and so it has great solar potential. Although Pakistan has great energy potential but 24% of Pakistan's
energy requirement depends onimports.
Keywords: Energy Crises, Potential Areas, Economic Benefits

1. Introduction
Pakistan is a country deficient in energy where per
capita energy supply is 0.30 Tons Oil Equivalent
(TOE) [14 million British Thermal Units (BTU)],
compared with 1.55 TOE for world, 0.32 TOE for
India, 0.91 TOE for China and 2.17 TOE (92 million
BTU) for Malaysia. The per capita Electricity
generation for Pakistan is 581 kwh, compared with
world average of2657 kwh, 1484 kwh for China and
3500 kwh for Malaysia. The import dependence of
Pakistan is 24%, compared with 2 1 % for
Bangladesh, 18% for India, 1% for China whereas
Malaysia exports 53% of its energy generated [5].
Natural gas is the main source of energy in Pakistan.
It fulfills the 50% of the country's primary energy
requirement. Natural gas is followed by oil, which
contributes 30% of primary energy requirement. The
share of coal in primary energy mix is 6.5%. the
remaining 13.5% is fulfilled by other sources like
Hydel, Nuclear etc.

barrels out of which 300 million are proven reserves.

The production level of crude oil is 22.6 million
barrels, whereas the consumption level is 100
million barrels. This oil and gas potential
corresponds to 0.75 percent and 1.79 percent
respectively of the corresponding world resource
potential. Some 3 percent of the estimated oil and 15
percent of the estimated natural gas potential
resources have been discovered so far in Pakistan.
Pakistan is sixth richest nation of the world in respect
of coal resources. The total coal reserves are
estimated at 185.5 billion tones. The production
level is 4.6 million tones whereas the consumption
level is 6.1 million tones. It has been estimated that
the hydel potential in the country is 46,000 MW,
while the present installed capacity of hydel power is
only 6595 M W [5].

The natural gas reserves of Pakistan are 8 trillion

cubic meters out of which 0.8 trillion cubic meters
are proven reserves. The production level of natural
gas is 93 million cubic meters per day, whereas the
consumption level is 82 million cubic meters.
Pakistan also has considerable crude oil reserves.
The estimated crude oil reserves are 27 billion
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Energy Potential of Pakistan

Oil
MTOE
(billion barrels)

Natural G a s
MTOE
(trillion C F T )

Coal
MTOE/
(billion tonne)

Resource potential

3,622
(27)

6,849
(282)

82,695
(185)

Proven recoverable
reserves

113
(0.84)

1,023
(51.532)

886
(1.98)

Cumulative production,
s o far

72
(0.54)

410
(18.714)

-89
(-0.20)

Remaining
reserves

41
(0.31)

612
(32.819)

797
(1.78)

3.2
(66,079
barrel/day)

27.9
(1.345)

2.1
(4.587 million
tonne)

13 years

22 years

~ 400 years

Category

recoverable

Annual production
Reserves : production
ratio

Notes: Proven recoverable reserves of coal reported above assume a recovery factor of60 per
cent for the measured resources of 3.30 billion tonnes.
Fig. 1: Oil, Gas and Coal Resource potential of Pakistan (As on
30 June, 2005)

2. Main energy sources:

Allai Khwar, Duber Khwar, Golen gol, Khan Khwar

and Kayal Khwar. One site (Matiltan) has been
offered to the private sector (with total capacity of 84
MW).

2. J Hydel

2.1.2 Hydel Potential in Punjab:

The identified hydel potential of Pakistan is 46,000

MW, out of which only 15 per cent (6,595 MW) has
been exploited so far and 8 10 % is under various
stages of development but still 75 % of the potential
hydel power is unexploited The Northern part of
Pakistan is rich with hydro power resources. Other
than 12 big (capacity greater than 1MW) hydro
power plants, there are a large number of sites in the
high terrain, where natural and manageable
waterfalls are abundantly available. The generation
capacity of Wapda's own hydel sources stands at
around 6,595 MW[5][11].

At different canals and barrages, about 324 potential

sites with a total capacity of 5895 M W were
identified with medium and small head. Out of these,
7 projects are in operation (with total capacity of
1698 MW); one site is under implementation in the
public sector (with total capacity of 96 MW).

2.1.1 Hydel Potential inNWFP:

In NWFP, 150 potential sites with a total capacity of
18698 M W are identified with high, medium and
small head. Out of these, 17 projects are in operation
(with total capacity of3767.2 MW), 6 sites are under
implementation in the public sector (with total
capacity of 635 MW), these 6 sites are Malakand-III,
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2.1.3 Hydel Potential in Azad Jammu Kashmir

(AM):
In AJK, 53 potential sites with a total capacity of
4635 M W are identified with high, medium and
small head. Out of these, 8 projects are in operation
(with total capacity of 1036.1 MW), 2 sites are under
implementation in the public sector (with total
capacity of 973.8 MW), and 7 sites has been offered
to the private sector (with total capacity of 828.7
MW), mainly, these sites are run-of-river sites, with
some as daily storage proj ects.

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Energy Potential of Pakistan

2.1.4 Hydel Potential in Sindh:

In sindh, 6 potential sites of an estimated total
capacity of 178 MW, with medium and low head at
different canals have been identified. Presently, no
hydel projects are in operation or under
implementation in the public sector, and no projects
are being processed / undertaken by the private
sector.

Half the number (302 wells) have been drilled during

the last 14 years (22 wells per year) resulting in net
addition to reserves of oil (13.7 MTOE, or 101
million barrels) and gas (125.3 MTOE or 7.1 trillion
CFT).
Pakistan's largest gas producing area has been and is
Sui, which was initially meeting 100% later on 50 %
and currently 28 % of country's gas requirements
[4][6][7][13].

2.1.5 Hydel Potential in Balochistan:

2.2.2 Oil:
The total identified hydel potential in the province is
0.50 MW. Presently, no hydel projects are in
operation or under implementation in the public
sector, and no projects are being processed /
undertaken by the private sector [11].

2.2 Thermal

Oil was the biggest primary source of energy in

Pakistan. In 1999-2000, oil provided 43.4% of
energy supplies, followed by gas at 40.5%. With the
production of more gas in the country, and as a result
of a deliberate policy decision to convert major
industrial concerns to gas, the share of oil as primary
source of energy reduced to 29.9% and share of gas
went up to 49.7%. in the year 2003-04.

2.2.1 Natural gas:

Natural gas has been and remains the most common
indigenous source of energy in Pakistan. With
constant rise in prices of oil, growth in population,
urbanization, industrialization, depletion in other
sources like wood and also because of convenient
usage, the demand for natural gas is on the increase.
Currently 50% of the energy requirements of the
country are being met from natural gas. This
percentage can very conveniently be increased
provided sufficient investments are made in the
drilling/development and supply system.
Pakistan has onshore and offshore sedimentary area
of 827,268 km . The conventional recoverable gas
resource potential of Pakistan, based on volumetric
yield method, has been estimated as 6,850 MTOE
(282 trillion CFT or 8.0 trillion m ) of gas. This gas
potential corresponds to 1.79 percent of the world
gas resource potential. Some 15 percent of the
estimated natural gas potential resources have been
discovered so far in Pakistan, from some 620
exploratory wells drilled over the past 40 years. The
remaining recoverable proven reserves of natural
gas are significant, i.e. 612MTOE
2

The cumulative oil and gas exploratory effort in

Pakistan so far has been very small, 0.75 wells
against the world average5 of 10 wells per 1000 km .
2

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The conventional recoverable oil resource potential

of Pakistan, based on volumetric yield method, has
been estimated as 3,622 MTOE (27 billion barrels)
of oil. This oil potential corresponds to 0.75 percent
of world oil potential. 3 percent of the estimated oil
potential resources have been discovered so far in
Pakistan, from 620 exploratory wells. The remaining
recoverable proven reserves of oil are only 41
MTOE
In the years 1998-99 to 2002-03, 30 to 33% of total
oil products were used by the power plants. In the
year 2003-04, the usage of oil products by the power
plants reduced to 17% of total oil because of supply
of more gas to these plants. During 1998-99 to 2003
04, the annual compound growth in the usage of oil
by the power plants has been -13.1%. Usage of gas
by the power plants has during this period increased
at annual compound growth of 18.8%. Usage of oil
products in domestic sector during 1998-99 to 2003
04 also declined at an annual compound growth rate
of 14.0%, while the usage of gas by this sector during
the same period increased at an annual compound
growth of 3.3%. Industrial Sector also reduced the
consumption of oil during 1998-99 to 2003-04 at an
annual compound growth rate of 6.7%. The oil sector
is heavily dependent on the imports. About 85% of
country's oil requirement is met by imports.
Annually about 7.8 million tons of crude oil and 5.2

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Energy Potential of Pakistan

million tons of oil products

[6][7][5][13].

are imported

2.2.3 Coal:
Coal plays an important role as a primary and an
inexpensive source for power generation. Coal
provides 25% of global primary energy needs and
generates 40% of world's electricity. In the Asian
region 45% power is generated from coal. This is
expected to increase to 60 % by the year 2020. Maj or
countries depending on power generation from coal
are South Africa 93%, Australia 80%, China 78%,
India 69%, US A 50% and Germany 47%.
Despite having much larger coal deposits
approximately estimated at 185 billion metric tons in
Pakistan (2% of the world's coal reserves), its share
in primary energy mix of the country is very small
that is only 6.5% as compared to its neighboring
countries where it is 55% for India and 67% for china
[14].

The Sindh province has total coal resources of 184

billion tons, accounting for 99% of the total coal
reserves in Pakistan. The quality of Coal is mostly
lignite - B to sub-bituminous A. The important coal
fields in sindh are Thar Coalfield, Lakhra Coalfield,
Sonda-Jherruck Coalfield.
The Balochistan province has total coal resources of
217 million tons. The coal seams in Balochistan are
found in Ghazig formation of Eocene age. The
quality of the coal is sub-bituminous A to high
volatile B bituminous. There are 5 known coalfields
mostly around Quetta.
The Punjab province has total coal resources of 235
million tons The Punjab province has coalfields in
the eastern, central and western Salt Range between
Khushab, Dandot and Khewra while Makarwal
coalfield lies in Trans Indus Range (Sarghar Range).
The rank of the coal is sub-bituminous A to high
volatile bituminous [12] [13].
2.3 Nuclear Energy:

Pakistan has emerged as one of the leading countries

sixth in the list of top 20 countries of the world after
the discovery of huge lignite coal resources in Sindh.
Economists say that the energy demand over the next
5 years is expected to grow at a rate of 7.4% per
annum. It may be noted that in India the share of coal
is as high as 54.5% in the total energy mix. To meet
the future requirements of the country with
indigenous resources, domestic exploration would
have to be intensified to increase the share of coal
from 5 to 19% by 2030. Energy Security Action Plan
has set a target of generating 20,000 MW power from
coal by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. The total
national coal production from operational coalmines
increased by 6.5 percent from 4.6 millions ton in
2005-06 to 4.9 million ton in 2006-07
Coal is found in all the four provinces of Pakistan.
The country has huge coal resources, about 185
billion tons, out of which 3.3 billion tons are in
proven/measured category and about 11 billion are
indicated reserves, and the bulk of it is found in
Sindh province. The current total mine able reserves
of coal are estimated at 2 billion tones (60% of the
measured reserves). Although Pakistan has great
coal reserves but 2.8 million tons of coal is being
imported at a cost of around $ 3 billion.

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Nuclear power is on the rise after decades of

dormancy, driven by the need for a cleaner
environment and steady, secure sources of power.
Presently there are 439 nuclear power plants, with a
total capacity of 372 GW, connected to the grid of 30
c o u n t r i e s . N u c l e a r power is the most
environmentally benign way of producing
electricity on a large scale. Without it most of the
world would have to rely almost entirely on fossil
fuels for base-load electricity production. Nuclear
power generation is an established part of the world's
electricity mix providing 16% of global electricity
[15].
In spite of very rapid and consistent increase in
electricity supply during the last three decades, the
level of per capita electricity consumption in
Pakistan is very low. It is only l/5th of that in the
world as a whole and l/20th of that in the developed
countries. Still 30 per cent of the population is
waiting for access to electricity. Until now Pakistan
has been relying on hydro and fossil fuel source for
electricity generation. The demand for electricity is
expected to increase exponentially in the near future.
Nuclear power is one of the possible options that
could meet the electricity needs of the country.

Energy Potential of Pakistan

Nuclear energy represents only 0.9% of the

electricity produced in Pakistan.
Pakistan is one of the ten developing countries,
which have nuclear power stations. The first major
step towards nuclear electricity generation was the
commissioning of a 137 MW, Karachi Nuclear
Power Plant (KANUPP) in 1971. It was then the first
and the only nuclear power plant in the Muslim
world. The construction of Pakistan's second nuclear
power plant CHASNUPP started in 1992 with the
help of China National Nuclear Corporation. The
plant was connected to the national grid on June 13,
2000. CHASNUPP is the second nuclear power
plant in the entire Muslim world. These two nuclear
power plants are now providing 3% of electricity
needs of Pakistan. After success of CHASNUPP-I,
the second unit CHASNUPP-II with a capacity of
340 MW has been inaugurated atthe same site.
To realize its plans, Pakistan plans to install 10-12
more nuclear power plant with the aim to produce
8800 MW of nuclear electricity in the 2030. At 85 per
cent capacity factor, the demand for natural uranium
will be 1,600 tones per year in 2030. Exploration and
mining of uranium in Pakistan will be intensified to
meet projected requirements as far as possible [6] [7].
2.4 Renew able energy:
As a result of intensive global research the cost of
generation of electrical power through renewable
sources of energy is becoming an attractive option.
The generation of electricity through renewable
sources is not only becoming competitive with
electricity produced through power stations using
fossil fuels, it is also reducing pollution and
contributing towards reduction in global warming.
By utilizing these modern technologies, Pakistan
can harness the freely available renewable sources of
energy like the wind, sun, biomass and oceans and
reduce its dependence on imported oil.
Pakistan has a large resource base for employing
renewable for meeting its energy needs. Renewable
resources that are technologically viable and have
prospects to be exploited commercially in Pakistan
include wind energy, solar energy, micro-hydel, bioenergy, and emerging technologies like fuel cell. The
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB)
would facilitate alternative/renewable energy
NFC-IEFR Journal o f Engineering & Scientific Research

projects and would also develop and implement offgrid electrification programme of rural areas. At
least 5 percent of total national power generation
capacity would be met through these resources by
2030 (i.e. 9700MW).
Government of Pakistan has created Alternate
Energy Development Board (AEDB) in 2003 to act
as the central body on the subject of Renewable
Energy (RE). The main objective of the Board is to
facilitate, promote and encourage development of
the RE in Pakistan with a mission to introduce
Alternative/Renewable energy at an accelerated rate
to achieve 10 % share of the RE in the energy mix of
the country.
The Chairman AEDB in a press conference said that
Pakistan will have 9700 M W of electricity by 2030
through renewable energy projects based on wind,
solar ,micro-hydel, fuel cell, tidal and bio gas
[8][10][18].
2.4.1

Wind Energy

Since 2001, global wind capacity has nearly doubled

to 47,760 megawatts and is cheaper than natural gas
even without subsidies; on good sites, wind is even
closing in on coal. The coastal belt of Pakistan is
blessed with a God gifted wind corridor that is 60 km
wide (Gharo ~ Kati Bandar) and 180 km long (up to
Hyderabad). This corridor has the exploitable
potential of 50,000 M W of electricity generation
through wind energy. The annual average wind
speed, at 50m height, at Gharo, Mirpursakro and
Talhar sites in Sindh is 6.5 m/s and the capacity
factors for wind turbines at these sites are estimated
to be in the range of 23-28 per cent. With improved
site studies, wider wind mapping, better project
planning, R&D and learning cost of wind energy
projects can be reduced to acceptable levels of
around US 6.0 cents/kWh and even below.
Wind energy is an ideal renewable energy because:
1.
2.
3.
4.

It is a pollution-free, infinitely sustainable

form of energy
It doesn't require fuel
It doesn't create greenhouse gasses
It doesn't produce toxic or radioactive waste.

Gharo Wind Power Plant is planned to be built at

Gharo, Sindh, Pakistan. This will be one of the first

Energy Potential of Pakistan

wind power proj ects in Pakistan.

The Fuhralander of Germany and Access Energy Inc
of United States have signed an agreement with
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) of
Pakistan, to manufacture wind turbines in Pakistan
to help establish wind power projects. US-based
Access Energy, who would set up a 50 M W wind
power plant along the general wind corridor in
Gharo, would finance the project, whereas the
German Company, Fuhrlander, would transfer the
technology to Pakistan for manufacturing of wind
turbines along with its accessories to set up a
minimum of 1000 MW power plants.
The AEDB had issued letter of intent to 93 national
and international companies for generating 4650
M W through wind energy, adding that the AEDB
was planning to produce the towers and blades for
windmill in Pakistan [16] [17].
2.4.2 Solar energy:
Much of Pakistan, especially Balochistan, Sindh,
and southern Punjab, receives abundant solar
irradiation on the order of over 2 MWh/m and 3,000
hours of sunshine a year, which is at the highest end
of global insolation averages.
2

Photovoltaic (PV) devices convert the energy

contained in the sunlight directly into electricity. PV
power generation is mature technology for small
power applications. PV systems are currently costeffective in some consumer products. Costs are
expected to continue to decline in the future allowing
PV device to compete with large-scale conventional
power generation.
During last fifteen years Pakistan has shown quite
encouraging developments in photovoltaic (PV).
The National Institute of Silicon Technology (NIST)
under the Ministry of Science and Technology has
developed the know-how and technology to
fabricate solar cells, modules, and systems.
In early 1980s eighteen PV stations in different parts
of the country were set up for village electrification.
Because of lack of technical know-how and follow
up, these systems have not performed as required.
Now NIST has developed the know-how and
technologies and basic infrastructure in the field.
NFC-IEFR Journal o f Engineering & Scientific Research

Currently solar technology is being used, in

Pakistan, for stand alone rural telephone exchanges,
repeater stations, highway emergency telephones,
refrigeration for vaccine and medicines in the
hospitals etc. The Public Health Department has
installed about 20 solar water pumps for drinking
purposes in different parts of Balochistan.
There are a large number of applications in which
solar energy can be utilized directly by exploiting its
heat characteristics. Such technologies are
comparatively simple, relatively low cost and can
easily be adopted. The applications include cooking,
heating and cooling of buildings, generation of high
temperature steam, heating water for domestic and
industrial applications, and drying agricultural
products under controlled temperature [ 10] [ 18].
2.4.3 Biomass:
Pakistan's large agricultural and livestock sector
produces copious amounts of biomass in the form of
crop residues and animal waste, such as bagasse, rice
husk, and dung, much of which is currently collected
and used outside the commercial economy as
unprocessed fuel for cooking and household heating.
In addition, municipal solid waste produced by a
large urban population is presently openly dumped,
which could instead be disposed of in proper
landfills or incinerated to produce useable methane
gas or electricity.
Presently, the domestic solid waste in Pakistan has
not been managed in a satisfactory and adequate
manner as far as its collection, transportation &
disposal or dumping are concerned regardless of the
size of the city. Polluted dust blows and people
suffers from living in such conditions. It is estimated
that the urban areas of Pakistan generate over 55,000
tons of solid wastes daily.
About 70% of the population resides in rural areas
who meet 95% of their domestic fuel needs by
burning bio-fuels, but in urban areas the bio-fuel
consumption drops to 56% because they use
Kerosene oil, LPG and natural gases etc. in addition
to fuel wood to meet their domestic fuel needs.
As per livestock census 2000, there are 46.69 million
of animals (buffaloes, cows, bullocks) in Pakistan
(FBS, 2002b). On the average, the daily dung

Energy Potential of Pakistan

dropping of a medium size animal is estimated at 15

kg per-day. This would yield a total of700 million kg
dung per day. Assuming 50% collectability the
availability of fresh dung comes to be 350 million kg
per day. Thus, 17.5 million m of biogas per day can
be produced through the bio-methanation

3.2 Thermal:

Sugar mills in the country use bagasse for

cogeneration purposes and have recently been
allowed to sell surplus power to the grid up to a
combined limit of 700 MW. No other significant
commercial biomass-based technology is presently
employed for energy production/use in the country
beyond experimental deployment of biogas
digesters, improved cook stoves, and other smallscale end-use applications. Use of biogas digesters
in rural households, after a promising start, has
stagnated due to withdrawal of external subsidies
[10][18].

3. Recommendations:
3.1 Hydel:

Decision regarding Kalabagh dam (3600

M W ) may be taken immediately after
developing consensus at the political level.
Construction for Bhasha Dam (4500 MW)
should be initiated on priority basis.
Extension of Tarbella Power House (960 MW)
should be undertaken immediately.
Construction of Neelum
Jhelum Hydel
Proj ect (969 MW) should be undertaken.
Construction of Dasu, Bunji and Akhori Dams
would have to be undertaken in the longer run.
Feasibility Study for Skardu / Katzara dam
needs to be initiated immediately.
Wapda should undertake feasibility studies for
maximizing Hydel power generation from all
rivers particularly Indus in order to identify
strategy and projects for increasing the Hydel
power share.
Thermal generation by private sector through
augmentation of existing capacity or
installation of additional capacity may be
encouraged.
Encourage Public-Private partnership or BOT
for power generation on canals and other mini
/ micro hydel proj ects.

NFC-IEFR Journal o f Engineering & Scientific Research

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Share of Coal in energy production may be

increased to at least 15% by 2030 and 50% by
2050 in the energy mix.
An authority like Wapda may be established
for mining and power generation through coal.
Technology transfer for Coal gasification is
essential.
Gasification of Coal tar for commercial use
may be expedited
Good quality coal import to be encouraged
only for short term for mixing with local coal
to increase coal consumption. Simultaneously
establishment of washeries by private sector
be encouraged for improving quality of local
coal.
Incentives for exploration activities may be
enhanced. Number of exploratory and
development wells needs to be increased
substantially from existing 268 wells by
another 250 300 wells every 5 years. By the
year 2030 number of wells should reach 1650.
Sugar Mills have 2000 M W of available
capacity during off-crushing season. This
capacity with some modification of boilers can
be made available on national grid.
Petroleum policy for on-shore and offshore
exploration may be pursued used with
incentives to attract foreign investment.
Expedite development of deeper reserves of
Sui which may have the potential to meet
rising demand for gas. Tal field also needs to
be developed as it can meet the demand of gas
in northern Pakistan.
New oil and gas discoveries may be developed
on fast track basis along with other new oil and
gas recoveries.
Production and use of ethanol from molasses
for mixing it with petrol may be encouraged to
meet some of the energy requirement from this
source as well.
Naphtha cracker plant and acquisition of
Hydrogen Fuel cell technology may be
developed/acquired.
Pakistan has done well using CNG for cars.
We need to fast track the introduction of CNG
for the entire public transport to reduce our
dependence on imported oil.

Energy Potential of Pakistan

3.3 Nuclear:

In view of scarce hydel potential in the long

run greater emphasis is required for
installation of nuclear power plants. Nuclear
capacity may be gradually increased from
existing 400 MW to 8800 M W by the year
2030.
PAEC may enhance indigenous capability to
maximize local content to reduce capital cost.
Capacity of each units may be increased from
300 M W to 600 M W and then to 1000 MW,
which should be standardized for future as
well

of hydel energy generation in Pakistan was Rs0.50

per kilowatt hour in 2000-01. The annual per capita
electricity consumption in Pakistan is around
320kwh, and this only caters for 60 per cent of the
population. Forty per cent of Pakistanis still have no
access to electricity. In view of these facts, the best
solution to Pakistan's energy/electricity crisis is
hydropower. An abundant, cheap, environmental
friendly and renewable source of energy has
remained untapped.
References
[I]
[2]

3.4Alternate energy
[3]

Sources of wind and solar energy may be

developed so that this sector can generate at
least 5% of total national power generation
capacity by 2030 i.e. 9700 MW. Alternate
Energy Development Board is however
chasing the target of supplying 10% of total
energy requirements by the 2015.
Development and use of solar products like,
solar cookers, solar geysers etc.

[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]

4. Conclusions:

[9]

Hydropower: way out of energy crisis

Government of Pakistan, Chapter 15, Energy,

Economic survey 2006 2007.
Government o f Pakistan, Chapter
16,
Environment,Economic Survey 2006-07.
Government of Pakistan, Chapter 8: Energy
and renewable resources fuelling thefuture.
Government of Pakistan, Chapter 9, Energy
for
growth,
V i s i o n 2030, Planning
commission.
Government of Pakistan, Energy Security' by
ministry of planning and development.
Government of Pakistan, Energy year book
2004-2005, ministry of petroleum and natural
resources.
Government of Pakistan, Energy year book
2005
2006, ministry of industries, production
and special initiatives.
G o v e r n m e n t o f P a k i s t a n , Policy
of
development of renewable energy for power
generation, 2006.
Government of Pakistan, Project
profile,
tarbela 4 extension hydropower
project,
private power and infrastructure board,
ministry ofwaterand power, May 2006.
Government of Pakistan, Promotion
of
renewable energy, energy efficiency
and
greenhouse gas abatement (PREGA),
April
2004.
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th

The single renewable energy resource that Pakistan

possesses in abundance is hydropower, the most
environmental friendly, cheapest source of energy. It
has a potential of more than 46,000MW. Despite
this, Pakistan now is faced with a most serious
energy shortfall. The acute shortage of electricity has
resulted in load shedding during the current summer
season, costing the economy millions of rupees.
The installed power generation capacity at the end of
2005 was 19,560MW, of which 65 per cent was
thermal, 33 per cent was hydroelectric and 2.4 per
cent was nuclear. The 33 per cent share of
hydroelectric power amounts to only 6,595MW. We
should not forget the fact that the projected lifetime
of the existing natural gas and oil is just over 22 and
13 years respectively. Domestic coal reserves may
be exploited only at great financial and
environmental costs. Seventy per cent of Pakistan's
oil needs are met through imports. The average cost
NFC-IEFR Journal o f Engineering & Scientific Research

[10]

[II]
[12]
[13]

[14]
[15]
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Energy Potential of Pakistan

[18]

American-Eurasian j o u r n a l of scientific
research 1(1): 52-54,2006.
Zeeshan Alam Zaigham and Zeeshan Alam
Nayyer, Prospects
of renewable
energy
sources
in Pakistan,
proceeding of
COMSATS conference 2004 on renewable
energy t e c h n o l o g i e s and s u s t a i n a b l e
development, 2005.

NFC-IEFR Journal o f Engineering & Scientific Research

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