Iterating his commitment to rid the country of electricity load-shedding by 2018, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated, on Wednesday, 340MW Chashma-III nuclear power plant - a Pak-China collaborative project like the Chashma I and II that are already operational generating 325MW and 340MW electricity, respectively. Chashma IV is set for completion by April next year. Future plans include two more nuclear power stations in central Punjab, and a big 2,200MW plant in Karachi, bringing the country's total nuclear power output to 8,800MW by 2030. Indeed, the country badly needs energy to overcome the present power crisis and also meet its growing future requirements. That calls for a healthy energy mix with an eye on the risk factor as well as developments in the sector.

Nuclear power plants gained popularity both as a cheap source of energy - notwithstanding their high cost of construction - and a cleaner alternative to coal-fired plants, the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions and consequent global warming. But they are not risk-free. It is unclear if necessary survey has been carried out for the Karachi Coastal Power Project vis-à-vis safety aspects given the fact that it is located in a tsunami-prone region. That is a matter of great concern in view of the example of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan which was initiated by tsunami forcing 150,000 people to run for their lives. It is better to take care when it is time rather than to be sorry later. Also, the emergent trends need to be taken into consideration. Building big nuclear power plants for distant future is an idea fast losing appeal; the emphasis now is on green and renewable sources of energy. Meanwhile, hectic scientific research is in progress aimed at exploiting brand new alternatives, which could render nuclear power plants obsolete by 2030.

The present energy crisis offers this country a unique opportunity to opt for projects that are clean, cheap and in tune with ongoing developments. At present, as per the Pakistan Electric Power Company statistics, hydel power accounts for 33.9 percent of the total electricity output followed by furnace oil, gas, and high-speed diesel thermal power stations at 29.9% 28.8%, and 1.4%, respectively. A small amount comes from other conventional sources. Solar power and some unspecified minor producers combined add a mere 0.2 percent to the national grid. A huge potential of cheap and clean power remains unutilized. Experts point out that a number of small and medium-sized projects promising to produce 65,000MW have already been identified while the overall estimated potential is as high as 100,000MW. And further that harnessing wind power in the Bhari-Keti Bandar and Hyderabad wind corridors as well as coastal belt of Balochistan and some northern areas can yield 50,000MW. And of course with sun shining all year round, solar power offers much more. Our energy policy planners need to pay attention to all these areas with a special focus on solar and wind power generation since new technologies in the two fields are expected to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017