Nepra, with outdated approach, cannot offer solutions as they have really no idea how a combined cycle thermal power plant can be operated efficiently and thus ensure lower tariff. Large combined cycle power plants, which could be operated at peak efficiency on 24x7 basis round the year are actually operated inefficiently and Nepra allows higher fuel consumption and thus higher tariff for no fault of the electric consumers. Of course, there is nobody in the government machinery who could understand thermal power generation efficiency. As a result, we suffer and a very large amount of our taxes, which should be spent on the hapless people for the very basic needs go unchecked to fill the endless pit of "circular debt".
It is correctly reported that the Ministry of Water & Power's poor performance has shaken the Prime Minister (BR, 26 April). After ordering multiple exorbitant thermal power plants costing billions of dollars, we have now noted that for evacuation of the expensive power, we need billions more for transmission and distribution system which would ensure further huge debt in our unending economically crippling misery!
Our planners have no idea how thermal power plants are presently being handled by caring nations who not only want lower tariffs but also ensure lowest possible environmental pollution. Most countries would not accept the present trend in Pakistan, which will result in massive pollution and enormous costs of logistics and yet we go on merrily as huge "slush funds" are available for many generations' luxurious living.
The world is moving towards "mini-grids" and "distributed generation" to avoid this huge expenditure on transmission and distribution and here, we are evacuating very large quantity of power (5,000MW?) in and around Karachi, producing pollution nightmare here for dispatch upcountry!
If only the big demand of power and gas for winter heating in Punjab was handled in an efficient manner, the story would be very different. How is it that we travel throughout the world endlessly on taxpayers' money but do not have the time to see how the energy sector is managed even in rich countries.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017