Adil Najam
Are we really serious about energy conservation? And, by ‘we’ I mean all of us, not just the government.
The government is making a high profile move on the subject by announcing new policies for energy conservation, better policing of energy abuse, and of new power generation. We have written about energy often (here, here, here, here, here) and our post on solar energy continues to get much attention.
As someone who works in this area, I know that (a) this is the single most important economic leverage available to economic decision makers in Pakistan, and (b) while not easy, this – unlike other pressing issues, like water, for example – is an area where something could actually be done; because technically and even fiscally there is a real set of useful things that are actually doable.
And, yet, I find my self sadly cynical that things will change. Not just because I am still not convinced that this is a priority for the government and decision-makers but also because I know that our media is too interested in the ‘sexy’ stuff of politics to care much about this, and frankly given all we see in our own energy usage (rich or poor) I am not sure if even we consumers are willing to do anything more than crib (specially, since much that needs to be done for conservation needs to be done by us). Sadly, we pay attention only when things go so very bad that people revert to energy violence.
I feel bad about being so cynical. And I sincerely hope that I am wrong.
P.S. On a related note, here is an op-ed I just published on Pakistani environmentalist Dr. Tariq Banuri’s run to be the next United Nations climate change chief.
I find it funny that we are always complaining about energy prices etc. but go to any house, even poor people’s houses and you have such energy wastage. For example, no insulation anywhere. It just does not make sense. this is not about environment just about saving you own money.
We desperately need better energy education.
The idea is ridiculous itself….how much we can save forcing the shopkepers to close thier shops by 8 pm by sticks and police what would the condition of already drowned business, two holidays in academia…what would be the effect on students , courses time and starting them from 7 am till 3 pm like long span, most important industry which is already closed by 40% and 3 shifts have come down to one with all major and big units down sizing thier experienced staff ecausse they have no electricity , no orders and hence no pays ! Hardly 1300 MW can be saved,so they say ! Kala Bagh can give alone 4500 MW , Bhasha also about 4300 MW , Thar Coal can give 50,000 MW for 100 years but no , we want commissions in RPPs today and in IPPs in 1996 in Benazir era for earning Rs. 12/unit from oil while General Ayub ,a Dictator , gave us Mangla which still give us Rs. 1.10/unit and Tarbela which today give us 80 Paisa/unit.
If this is the vision of Dictator, then we welcome Kiyani to plz. come forward , we been waiting for you , Sir !
CONSERVATION IS A MATTER OF HABIT !
A STATE OF MIND!
Whether it is Electricity, Water, Gas, Food or anything else, it is something one learns from childhood at HOME from parents and at SCHOOL and then it becomes the Habit of a lifetime. Both places provide Education and it is best delivered through Example.
The Rich who have all these BLESSINGS, should be the ones to set the Example!
CONSERVATION also very much depends on who is paying for these facilities, IF one pays him/her self conservation would follow.
When it is provided FREE – as many (including servants and workers at Offices, Shops, Factories and other places of work) in service of Government and Private Sector receive – there is NO incentive to Conserve.
In such cases the one who pays should lay the Law, including denial and disconnection.
End of Story!
I agree with Haroon that people also misuse the UPS energy and when the battery starts to give up, they have to become careful in usage, So why not be careful just in time.
Its not only the Govt responsible for this energy crisis but ‘we’ also.Even my Television set used to be on standby mode every time but seeing the crisis, I have now started to turn the power switch off and the microwave as well.
There is still time to realize the mistakes and make up for these. Our individual efforts will make a Great Difference I Believe :)
I agree. Even though energy is so expensive in Pakistan, we ourselves waste it so much. I have seen it myself, that the loadshedding begins, there is no light, people turn on the UPS and start talking about just bad this is and how expensive and then they are even misusing and wasting the UPS energy!