Energy security appears to be the biggest challenge confronting the country since long. The following paragraphs are an attempt at a quick health check of Pakistan’s energy supply chain and recommending the way forward. Despite all of our cash flow issues and heavy debt, we have somehow ended up with a highly lethal energy mix which compels us to spend…
Read MoreMonth: February 2021
Potential of coal gasification
With dwindling gas resources and lack of discovery of new oil and gas resources, energy dependence will increase unless dedicated efforts are made to discover new resources and increase the utilisation of existing resources. Pakistan has one of the largest lignite (brown coal) resources, which can be termed almost limitless (185 billion tons). Despite this, coal imports have been increasing…
Read MoreOld guard oppose incentives for electric vehicles
The neighbouring countries are treating hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plugged-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) in the same fashion. While creating a base for future autonomous connected vehicles and the related infrastructure, Pakistan should not be too off the mark if it wants to promote environment-friendly vehicles. This was the concluding remark by Indus Motor Company (IMC)…
Read MorePakistani ‘oil city’ masterplan for $10 billion Aramco refinery expected by year’s end
GWADAR: The planning process for the country’s largest oil city — which will house a $10 billion Aramco Oil Refinery project — in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province is expected to conclude before the end of the year, Pakistani officials said this week. The proposed mega oil city will be developed at an area of 80,000 acres in Gwadar District for the…
Read MoreRs108b savings expected from power shift to solar
The Punjab government has decided to shift government offices, schools, colleges, universities and health units across Punjab to solar power under the Green Energy Programme through which Rs108 billion will be saved annually. A comprehensive plan has been formulated to increase the use of solar energy in the light of the directives issued by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. In…
Read MoreProposed levy on LPG imports via land route may impact Balochistan
The federal government has proposed a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) policy that may leave the least developed province disadvantageous. Daily Times has obtained policy recommendations of a subcommittee of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, which canvass policy shift designed to defeat land imports of LPG with the objective of benefiting imports by sea. “As the land import does not attract…
Read MoreGovt clearing liabilities of power sector: Omer Ayub
Federal Minister for Energy Omer Ayub Khan on Friday said present government was clearing liabilities of the previous regimes in the power sector that had been incurring huge losses to national exchequer. Taking part in the debate in the National Assembly regarding inflation, he said that the previous government had somehow planted “landmines” in the foundation of economy. He said…
Read MoreGovt plans first $500m green bond to fund hydropower projects
The government is planning to issue a $500 million green bond in the next few months to help boost its development of hydroelectric power. The bond, denominated in euros, will be the government’s first to fund environmental goals, Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Climate Change, said in an interview with Bloomberg. It is set to…
Read MoreExperts collect suggestions on water policy
HYDERABAD: Although blessed with the Indus River, lakes, mountain streams and subsoil water, Sindh and its people continue to face myriads of water-related problems, ranging from shortage of water supply to contamination. Keeping this in view, the provincial government embarked upon the gigantic task of formulating an all-encompassing water policy, covering urban to rural water supply and drainage, over three…
Read MorePower firms seek 93-paisa hike for January
ISLAMABAD: The electricity rates for consumers of 10 distribution companies (Discos) of ex-Wapda may go up by about 93 paisas per unit on account of monthly fuel cost adjustment for January due to higher than estimated power generation cost. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) will take up for public hearing on Feb 25 the Discos’ petition seeking increase…
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