Electricity shortfall

The power crisis continues as the country recently witnessed an electricity shortfall of 6,439 megawatts (MWs), resulting in power outages of up to six hours in urban cities twelve hours in rural areas. There is a huge demand and supply deficit as the country requires around 24,900 MWs of electricity while only producing 18,461 MWs.

Governments seem unnerved and concerted efforts of shifting towards sustainable energy sources remains to be seen. Private power plants generate the most electricity, approximately 7,500 MWs, followed by hydropower sources producing 6,700 MWs. Solar, wind and thermal sources produce only a meagre 1,760 MWs together. If the country is to relieve the burden on the energy sector while saving money at the same time, it needs to stop resorting to private sector power plants and invest heavily in renewable means of producing electricity. Reopening plants and improving their efficiency might be a suitable step in the short-run but will prove costly and unsustainable for the longer period. The country is already reeling with the horrific effects of climate change and burning more fossil fuels will do us no good. The 45% contribution from renewable sources must be increased by procuring heavy investments. The EU has already planned to accelerate the large-scale rollout of solar energy in a bid to decrease reliance on Russian fossil fuel. We musts aim for the same and build a relationship on that front to procure technology and investment.

Officials have failed to implement energy policies, and now and energy crisis and well as an economic crisis looms over the country. Energy lockdowns and frequent load shedding will further make matters worse and causes discord with the masses. The way forward is to experiment with renewable systems that can be used in domestic settings.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2022.

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