The Need For A Decentralized Energy Policy In Pakistan
A good essay published at The News by Ali Hammad, a Pakistani student in Netherlands. Excerpts below.
Pakistan’s energy policy is neither an item of discussion in the media nor general public. The subject of energy is dealt by ministry for petroleum and the ministry for water and power (W&P) development. The ministry is more focused on issues currently at hand rather than highlighting plans for the future. Electrical aspect is only one part of the energy policy but due to the obvious supply shortage it has overshadowed other more important issues like our dependence on foreign fuel which could have caused a total meltdown of Pakistani economy if the fuel prices had continued rising.
Undoubtedly the Pakistani power crisis is a nightmare. However, it can also be taken as an opportunity to adapt ‘Decentralized Power Systems’(DPS), a system through which every single house could become a little power station by connecting to national grid and providing electricity. Obviously this means that the provider will be paid. This would eliminate Pakistan’s power problems. Developed nations are speedily moving towards creating a strong decentralized power network whereby the old system of huge power plants acting as the sole providers of electricity to normal households will become obsolete. The west has weighed its pros against cons and almost all European countries as well as America/Canada have implemented policies supporting this mechanism in their national grids.
With a successful decentralized power supply mechanism in place, the power industry in Pakistan can flourish. The power supply shortages make it easier for Pakistan to implement the DPS policy as compared to countries which are currently self-sufficient in the production of electricity or are producing more than their requirement. Our country currently contains the right ingredients to start a semi mechanical /electrical revolution but it lacks proper policies (not funds) paving the way for such an endeavour.
A proper implementation of the ‘DPS policy’ would lead to new entrepreneurships, jobs and technological achievements, I as a Pakistani would prefer this over several billions of dollars in foreign investment! From a strategic point of view it is a win-win situation. All it would take is the right Government policy at the national grid level and an awareness campaign meant to educate people about the energy sector.
Pakistan should benefit from the research carried out in developed nations and swiftly come at par with the level of research for technologies which we can harness. DPS is one of the latter. Universities, companies, engineers, scientists and even politicians of Europe are chanting “Decentralized is the future”, we as Pakistanis should embrace this as an opportunity before it is too late.
