The Greening of Pakistan

Posted on June 28, 2006
Filed Under >Bilal Zuberi, Economy & Development, Environment, Science and Technology
13 Comments
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By Bilal Zuberi

Reportedly, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is encouraging the use of alternative energy sources in Pakistan.

“We must make the best use of untapped energy potential in the form of wind and solar energy to meet the growing requirements in the long-term. This has become all the more important in the face of soaring oil prices… Mounting energy requirements on the back of robust industrial growth demand that the country exploit its hydropower capacity as well as benefit from abundant alternative energy means.â€Â?

This could be a much needed leadership stance to at least explore what alternative energy sources can become available for Pakistan in the future. Researchers in Pakistani universities should jump on this opportunity to take lead in unleashing energy stored in solar, wind, water/tidal, bio-fuels, hydrogen, coal, gas, nuclear and other alternative fuels. Energy derived from alternative sources can not only be renewable, but also cheap, clean and locally accessible.

For example, last year, nearly $1.6 billion of venture capital investments in the US were made in the clean-technology industry, and they have exceeded the total investments in semi-conductor industry . How and where is Pakistan positioning itself in this next technology boom? There is a huge potential for an agriculture based economy like Pakistan to trade up in value derived from its crops.

Pakistan is already going to make a move from diesel to CNG (starting 2007). In the past, chairman of the Alternative Energy Development Board of Pakistan, has also announced that Pakistan will derive 650MW of energy from wind sources, and up to 9700 MW (5% of total installed capacity) by 2030.

Is the alternative energy/renewable fuel/environmental movement finally catching interest in government circles? How can we help strengthen their resolve (if it is real and not just hot air) and bring other necessary resources to the table?

Dr. Bilal Zuberi is Vice President of Product Development at GEO2 Technologies in Boston (MA), USA. (See more at Bilal’s blog).

13 responses to “The Greening of Pakistan”

  1. Bilal Zuberi says:

    Sarah posted this on my blog. it may be of interest here.

    skarim said,
    June 27, 2006 at 2:34 am

    Energy is definitely a hot topic these days – and I was surprised to note that there were quite a few sessions on alternative energy at the recent POGEE conference in Karachi (Pakistan Oil, Gas and Energy Exhibition) in May (see http://www.pogeepakistan.com/).

    One point to note re: Pakistan’s move from diesel to CNG – another very popular alternative fuel in the transport sector is that of LPG. If you were to talk to a taxi driver in Karachi, they’ll give you an estimate that about 90% of taxis are actually running on LPG, and not even CNG. And while this is anectodal and I may be partial to the positive benefits of LPG b/c I work in this sector, a few interesting articles for you:

    http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2005-daily/08-11 -2005/business/b3.htm
    http://www.indiainfoline.com/auto/feat/lpga.html

    -s.

  2. Adil Najam says:

    Bilal, yes co-generation has been a possibility in Pakistan since the late 80’s, early 90’s. That is, a company producing excess energy could sell it back to the grid. I see no reason why this could not be done with renewable generation too.

    The problem, however, is the GRID. What do you do if there is no grid near where you are generating your wind energy. As in most developing countries, the grid in Pakistan is scattered and non-comprehensive. I have never much liked the idea of the ‘grid’ (alternatives could have been decentralized small and mini hydels, etc.); it was one of the many ‘modern’ ideas imported in the name of ‘development’ and without thought to local conditions. It also produced the ‘politics’ of grids. Which is why promising to ‘bring’ electricity to your village (i.e., bringing the grid) is so popular in our part of the world.

  3. Hamza says:

    It’s a good idea in theory but like MSK im a bit skeptical if anything concrete will work out…..

  4. Bilal Zuberi says:

    It is hard to gauge the ‘real’ in their interest. More importantly, can they really deliver, given that they have a retd military guy heading the Alternative Energy Development Board? I don’t know th e gentleman very well but I would have liked to see somebody with a private sector business focus to lead that effort – not another fauji foundation/steel mill type scenario.
    Does anybody know what is the status on private energy creation and distribution in Pakistan? Can electricity be generated locally and pumped back into the grid at a price? For example, can a private entity generate wind generated eletcricity in Thar, and pump it into the grid for use in Hyderabad, Sukkur or Karachi?

  5. MSK says:

    Do you think this interest is real, or just rhetoric.

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