Pakistan’s Energy Crisis and Energy Saver Bulbs

Posted on April 3, 2010
Filed Under >Deeda-e-Beena, Environment, Science and Technology
21 Comments
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Deeda-e-Beena

Pakistan is facing a huge and growing energy crisis, a daily reminder of which are the multiple instances of load-shedding each day all over Pakistan. The crisis, of course, needs long-term energy generation solutions. But it also needs immediate energy conservation. And one important way of doing this is through Energy Saver Bulbs.

Pakistan is among a few countries taking off aggressively to use these energy saver bulbs. While people have been converting to them in millions during the last couple of years in this age of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) gadgetry and individual generators, the government has recently decided to import millions – 30 millions by a newspaper report – of these energy saver bulbs for reportedly “FREE” distribution.

This declaration of massive imports and their free distribution, if inappropriately administered, is fraught with potential dangers of corruption and abuse. Irresponsible persons can make fortunes at both ends of these transactions and at the expense of most economically solving the national problems of electricity shortages and environmental degradation.

In fact, it would be appropriate and in the national interest to manufacture these bulbs locally. That would support the existing manufacturing Industry which must be suffering factory closures, economic losses and lost jobs due to the en masse conversion from the incandescent lamps to these Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, or CFLs.

Their massive use will supposedly combat the electricity shortage problem by using 75-80 % less electricity; lowering the individual bills and could also contribute to improved environment through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, few people realize that they need to be disposed properly, failing which they can cause harm because of the mercury contained in them.

According to an estimate China is producing 70% of the world’s supply of these CFLs. There are many brands sold in Pakistan, prominently Phillips and Osaka etc., The packing containers for none of these sold in Pakistan show how to take care and dispose them when unusable. However, those sold in the USA are also made in China but they provide detailed instructions about care and their safe disposal. The local administrations also provide special receptacles at accessible places. The regimes are similar to worn-out batteries and used hypodermic syringes.

Those who are making huge profits from this trade in Pakistan should be made to support and subsidize a safe disposal and recycling program, nationwide. If not as a public service then to avoid potential liability lawsuits from those adversely affected. In a nutshell, we have been advised that the CFL bulbs are good for the environment, the energy crisis, our bank account, and global warming! They also need to be informed about the proper disposal procedures needed for them, failing which they can cause harm.

The Government should regulate and make available an Environmentally Safe and well protected disposal system. The Media, in particular TV and radio have to play their all important part to disseminate it. The importers/suppliers must also fulfill their legal obligations in this. Finally, people must organize their own neighborhood Collection/ Disposal arrangements if Government fails. It will be for their own safety and benefit.

21 responses to “Pakistan’s Energy Crisis and Energy Saver Bulbs”

  1. Ddb says:

    We all know one thing. For instance, if we own a factory, and shut it down completely. Then, it would be very likely for us to go bankrupt.

    However, only if we run the factory, revenue would be generated.

    These KESC guys say the furnace oil is very expensive. That is a ridiculous excuse for load shedding. Only if they continue to run the machinery will revenue be generated for them as well. By shutting down the machinery for hours in a day instead of saving money would make them collapse.

    Aisa hi chalta raha to KHI mein bhi balwa hojaayegaa…pehle bhi hua hai…

    We are a joke on the globe. ‘A country with nuclear energy, but no electrical energy!’

  2. Jamshaid Khan Barki says:

    Its an attempt of huge corruption like wise rental power. 30 million energy savors would cost Pakistan 3 billion rupees. With such big amount, Pakistan can build 5 to 6 energy savors manufacturing units. One in each province as well one in ALK.

  3. Farooq Azam says:

    Light is not only the needed thing from electricity which can be resolved by energy savers. There are lot of other parameters like industry requirement, small business like internet club and laundry are also affected.

  4. Riaz Haq says:

    Unless Pakistani government deals with the economics of power generation by boldly tackling the issue of growing circular debt quickly, it will be almost impossible to get the IPPs to fully utilize existing installed capacity, much less attract new investments in the power sector.

    The key players in this “circular debt” trap are the federal and provincial governments as the biggest deadbeats, the power distributors like KESC, the power producers like Pepco and Hubco, and the fuel suppliers like government-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and partially state-owned Pak-Arab Refinery Ltd (PARCO). This debt circle begins with the government as the biggest debtor and ends with a government-owned entity as the biggest creditor. So the obvious question is: If the government is both the biggest debtor and the biggest creditor, then why is it that the government leaders can not solve the problem? Is it the lack of will? or the lack of competence? Is there a personal profit motive of the top leader of the ruling PPP, who is allegedly pushing rental power plants (RPPs) contracts ahead of the speedy resolution of circular debt? Is it a combination of corruption and incompetence? The answer to these questions depends on who you ask.

    http://www.riazhaq.com/2010/02/pakistans-circular- debt-and-load.html

  5. Aziz says:

    If the government is give them out for free…that is good but the program needs to be managed properly. Maybe they can choose a few neighborhoods and distribute bulbs for free and then do a feasibility study on their energy consumption.

    Apart from these bulbs, goverment needs to push everything ‘energy saver’. Today you can buy anything from refrigerator and TV to windows and curtains that helps you consume less energy. Public should be educated and the benefits and he high energy consuming products should be slowly taken out of the market.

    I agree with Sober Man that LED is the new thing in. We should also look into those.

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