NATURAL RESOURCES

 Primary sources of energy in Pakistan are gas, oil hydroelectricity and

coal.
 Secondary sources are nuclear, LPG (liquidized petroleum gas) , and CNG
(compressed natural gas)

COAL
- Coal is basically formed by the decomposition of plants.
- Plants are buried in the subsurface and when they decompose they form
coal.
- Coal is always found in layers.
- Hence forms of coal are:
✓ Peat → Lignite → Sub-Bituminous → Bituminous → Anthracite
DETERMING QUALITY OF COAL
- It is determined by at what depth it is found. Quality of coal depends upon
its color.
- It also depends upon its carbon content. The more carbon the better the
coal is.
- Depends upon its heating value. The more heating value the better the
coal is.
- If there will be more sulphur, Coal is of inferior quality.
- If there will be less sulphur, Coal is of superior quality.
- More moisture, Coal is of inferior quality.
- Less moisture, Coal is of superior quality.
TYPES OF COAL
Anthracite
- Blackest coal of all and found in thin layers, deep underground.
- It is the best quality of coal, hardest, with highest carbon content and
burns with great heat.
Bituminous
- It is darker in color and found further deep underground and has two
types; Steam Coal and Coking Coal
- Steam coal: black, hard coal found in highly compressed seams. Lower
hydrocarbon than anthracite, and burns readily
- Coking coal: burnt to produce hard, grey porous material used in blast
furnaces for extraction of iron from iron ore
Lignite
- It is found near the surface and easier to mine. It is a low quality coal with
a high moisture and ash content. It has a low heating value.
Peat
 - It is exclusively vegetative matter and represent the initial stage of coal
formation. Low carbon content.

- If coal is extracted near the surface, then it is mined by open-cast mining

- If coal is located in the greater depth, then it is extracted by Shaft mining.
- If coal is located on hill slopes, then Adit mining is used to extract coal
- In 2009, the total coal reserves in Pakistan was estimated to be around
186 billion tonnes of which 175 billion is found in the Thar coalfield in
Sindh.
COAL IN PAKISTAN
- Three major coal producing regions in Pakistan:
1. Salt Range and Makarwal-Gullakhel coalfields (lignite to sub-
bituminous)
 In salt range, dandot and pidh are important coalfields
 Coalfiels in M-G of better quality than salt range.
2. Coal deposits in Balochistan (bituminous/sub-bituminous)
 Three major coalfields in Balochistan: khost-sharig-harnai, sor
range-degari (sub-bituminous coal), and mach
 Coal used in steel industry and briquetting
3. Lower Sindh coalfields (lignite)
 Account for 96 percent of total reserves of Pakistan.
 Lakhra coalfield located here
 Jhimpir-Meting coalfield located here
 Thar coalfield located here. Accounts for 94 percent of the
reserves but contains poor quality coal; also, far from railway lines
(transportation cost).
Transporting coal from mine to end user:
- First, coal is extracted from the coalface. Then loaded onto trolleys.
- In small mines, donkeys used to pull the trolleys.
- After this, coal graded into different qualities and sold to dealers who
supply it to brick kilns and cement factories, etc. where it is used as fuels.
- When the coal is supplied to thermal power stations, rail transport is also
used if it is economically feasible.
- Brick kilns use 83 % of Pakistan’s coal production.
Why does Pakistan have low quality coal?
1. Lignite Coal. Low burning temperature.
2. Low carbon content. High Ash content. High Sulphur content.
3. Reserves not developed.
4. Difficult to mine.
5. Few industries use coal as a fuel.
6. Mining for good quality is risky and dangerous
Why does coal have to be imported?
1. Poor quality coal.
2. Lack of technology/modernized equipment for extraction
3. Lack of capital.
4. Lack of government interest.
5. Lack of skilled labor.
6. Mainly imported from India, Australia and Brazil
Why has the government been considering the use of coal in the industrial
sector?
1. Balochistan used to be the most important coal mining region, but more
recently, huge reserves have been discovered in Sindh (Thar Desert).
According to one study, Pakistan’s coal reserves are many times greater than
its reserves of natural gas.
2. In view of the uncertainty surrounding the price of oil and the huge amount of
foreign exchange involved in importing oil, the authorities have considered
using indigenous coal as an alternative source of fuel. Coal is used in much of
the cement industry as it is cheaper than natural gas.
USES OF COAL
1. Largely used in brick kilns as briquettes (a block of compressed coal dust
used as fuel) and also in cement factories.
2. Coal with coke properties is converted into coke for industrial purposes, and
coal is also used to generate electricity.
3. Steel industry uses coal by heating it and converting into coke (consists nearly
pure carbon). Coke is combined with iron ore and limestone, then the mixture
is heated to extract iron from the iron ore. Gases emitted during the process
are used to make fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, and other
products.
4. Also used for power generation
 Pak coalfields have huge lignite reserves that could last for 500 years.
THAR POWER GENERATION PROJECT
1. Environmental losses
 Should not be built near river Indus. Coal-fired power plants are the
largest source of fly ash, and mercury pollution falls into nearby rivers
where it builds up in fish.
 Consuming such fish can cause damage to brain and nervous system.
 Fly ash causes reduced crop yields, respiratory disorders in humans
and livestock, and contamination of groundwater with toxic salts and
metallic content.
2. Economic gains
 General consumers could get electricity at much cheaper rates than
they are paying now.
 Reliance on indigenous fuel will help save billions of dollars in foreign
exchange which are currently being spent on expensive oil imports.
  Benefit of gasification of coal:
 Cheap fuel
 Fuel companies convert coal into easily transportable coal gas or liquid
fuels.
 It is used directly as fuel or refined into cleaner-burning gas to make it
less polluting.
Which type of coal is imported and how is it used?
Type: Anthracite/bituminous
Use: steel industry/heavy engineering/smelting

MINERAL OIL (PETROLEUM)

- Most important fossil fuel today
- Occurs in porous spaces of sedimentary rocks and is derived mainly from
the decomposition of marine animal and vegetable matter over several
million years.
- Occurs in dome-shaped anticlines between layers of non-porous rocks. Oil
is trapped in the anticline with gas above and water below.
- Oil exploration and production has increased in Pakistan over the years,
but oil imports are still required as Pakistan’s oil production meets less
than 25 percent of its needs. Most of it is imported from countries in the
Middle East and the Gulf regions.
- From 2003-12 Pakistan imported over 70 million tonnes of petroleum.
- The bulk of oil is consumed by transport and power sectors – nearly 57
percent is consumed by transport, about 33 percent by power, remaining
by govt. and domestic users.
OIL DRILLING
- Once drilling site has been selected, a derrick is setup.
- Once the depth is found, pipes are setup.
- Physical surveys are conducted to find out oil and gas reservoirs. Different
facilities are installed on the surface such as vibratory trucks. Wire lines
are laid down and Geophones are placed.
- An explosion takes place and sound waves are produced. These sound
waves when reaches reservoirs, reflect back to the surface and are
detected by geophones. The graphical reading helps to locate the location
of oil and gas.
- Then the facilities are removed from the surface and an oil rig or gas rig is
installed. They help in drilling out oil. It is also known as derrick

OIL REFINING
 Crude oil cannot be used in its raw state; it must be processed and refined
into products such as petrol for cars and aeroplanes, heating oil,
kerosene, and diesel oil for trucks and buses.
Oil fields:
1. Upper Punjab (between river Indus and Jhelum)
2. Northern region – Khaur oilfield
3. Lower Sindh (southern side) (Hyderabad) – produce more than 60 percent of
total petroleum output – Khaskeli oilfield in Badin district
Oil refineries:
1. Attock Oil Refinery
2. Dhodak Oil Refinery
3. Pak-Arab Refinery
4. Pakistan Refinery
5. National Refinery
Name an oil refinery located near the coast. Why is it located there?
Karachi/Keamari/Bin Qasim – to reduce transportation cost of imported oil, and
also because there are oilfields in lower Sindh.
Name an oil refinery located in Punjab. Why is it located there?
Attock Oil refinery, Morga – local oilfield in Potwar Plateau, demand from
Islamabad/Rawalpindi
Where are oil refineries located?
1. In or near the oilfields e.g. Attock oil refinery is located on the Potwar Plateau
at Morga.
2. At the port of import e.g. Pakistan Refinery and National Refinery are located
in Karachi.
3. Market or demand factor. If refineries are close to industrial and commercial
urban centres with high population density, transportation and distribution of
refined oil are convenient and cost-effective.
What is an ‘oil trap’?
1. Where oil is extracted from
2. Called an oil trap as oil cannot get through the rocks around it
3. Oil between layers of non-porous rocks
4. Oil rises to top of the anticline
How is oil extracted from this ‘trap’?
1. Derrick/drilling rig is dug
2. Pipes are inserted
3. Tough metal drilled into rocks
4. Oil rises when pumped up
5. Valves to control the flow into pipeline
6. Derrick removed/dismantled after oil is flowing
Why do we import oil?
1. Lack of technology/skilled labour
2. Pakistan produces 55,000 barrels per day. Requirement is 400,000 barrels
per day. Not enough reserves.
3. Pakistan cannot satisfy its needs due to lack of investment/money
4. Resources not exploited
5. Growing demand for population
6. More industries
7. Most thermal stations use oil
Problems of importing oil
1. Negative trade balance
2. Economy go down
3. Uses for exchange
4. Creditors increase influence over Pakistan’s affairs
5. Less money for investment and to spend in education, agriculture and health
6. More tax is composed
7. Cannot afford to exploit new oil fields.
TRANSPORTATION OF OIL
Transport at Sea
 Imported crude and refined petroleum imported by sea from oil-producing
countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia.
 In oil tankers.
 At keamari (Karachi) port or Port Qasim, tankers are berthed at the
designated oil pier. Through the pier, the ship is connected to the oil-
handling system.
 Then, the oil products (crude or refined) are pumped from the tanker ship
to the oil-marketing companies’/refineries’ storage tanks.
Transport on land
- Pipelines
- Road tankers
- Rail tankers
 Transportation of oil by pipelines is the most preferable mode of transport –
transport by road and rail can be costly, time-consuming, environmentally
unfriendly, and inefficient.
 Transport by road can cause traffic congestion, and heavy weight of goods
can damage roads, posing threat to lives.
Transport of crude oil
 Pumped through pipes from tankers at the oil terminals on the coast to the
refineries nearby.
 PARCO (Pak-Arab Refinery Company) plays an important role in the
transportation of crude oil from Karachi (also imported oil is processed
here)
Transport of refined oil
  By road and rail tankers to petrol stations and other customers.
 In Karachi, oil is transported through pipelines to storage tanks of oil
companies – consumers buy petroleum products directly from petrol
pumps.
USES OF OIL
1. Greatest use of oil is as a motor fuel – drives nearly all vehicles, aircrafts,
trains, and ships.
 Petrol – for cars, aircraft, and jet-petrol-1 and jet-petrol-4
 Diesel – buses, rail engines, and trucks
2. Used as a lubricant in machines to reduce friction.
3. Important source of power to generate electricity and for heating
4. By-products are also quite useful – wax, plastics, paraffin, detergents,
insecticides, etc.
WHITE OIL PIPELINE PROJECT
 In 2002 PARCO launched a white oil pipeline project (WOPP) which will
carry refined oil from Karachi to the north.
 After conversions of PARCO’s existing pipeline network for crude oil
transportation, the white oil pipeline will be used for the transport of refined
petroleum products to the central and northern regions of Pakistan.
 These areas account for almost 60 % of the total petroleum consumption
in the country.7
 Bin Qasim Port will be the initial point of the white Oil Pipeline project.
 The new underground pipeline costing $480 million will also carry refined
oil from the Pakistan oil refinery at port Qasim to Mahmood Kot in district
Muzaffargarh covering a distance of 817 KM.
 The demand for petroleum products is rising at a rate of 10 % per annum.
 Benefit: Not only will it supply oil to more regions and hence meet more
population demand, but it will also create employment opportunities in
many areas and will contribute to the economic welfare of the country.

NATURAL GAS
 Second most important fuel found above the oil in oil-bearing rocks. These
rocks contain millions of tiny pores (porous rocks) and they act like a sponge
and soak up gas as it is formed.
 Above this rock is a layer of non-porous rock that traps the gas and prevents it
from escaping into the surroundings.
 Made of many gases e.g. methane, ethane, propane, butane, etc.
 When it is cooled to very low temperature it turns into a liquid (LPG).
 Colorless and Odourless
 In 1999, Pak’s estimated natural gas reserves were approximately 492 billion
cubic metres – will last for 25 years at the present rate of consumption rate.
 Pakistan Pteroleum Limited (PPL) – largest gas field in the world
Why is smell added to natural gas?
 1. Colorless and Odourless.
2. People will not be able to detect it until it becomes explosive.
3. A chemical called Mercaptan is added to the gas.
4. Mercaptan is harmless, non-toxic and has a strong “rotten egg” smell
Gas fields
1. East Central Balochistan and Upper Sindh – Sui Gas Field (Balochistan),
Marri (Upper Sindh) (largest gas field) Pirkoh Gas Field (B), Zin Gas Field (B),
Uch gas field (B)
2. Lower Sindh – Bhatti, Turk, Turk deep gas field
- 10 active gas fields in Punjab and five in KPK
3. Northern Region – Dhodak, Adhi, Pindori (Punjab), Kohat (KPK)
What is LPG?
 Liquefied petroleum gas
 When natural gas is cooled to a very low temperature, it becomes a liquid
 Can be shipped around in special cylinders.
 In mountainous regions like Muree, Gilgit, and Abbotabad, many people use
LPG for cooking and heating due to no gas pipelines.
 Stored in steel cylinders and can be transported by road.
What is CNG?
 Compressed natural gas. Gas compressed to 1% volume it has at normal
pressure.
 Methane stored at high pressure, and primarily used in place of petrol and
diesel.
 Found above oil deposits.
 Can also be collected from landfills or wastewater treatment plants, where it is
known as biogas
 Stored and distributed in cylinders
 Advantage of CNG: safer than other fuels in the event of a spill as natural gas
is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. Also a lesser threat to
the environment than hydrocarbon fuels.
USES OF NATURAL GAS
1. Power generation.
2. Cooking and heating.
3. For cement.
4. For Fertilizers.
5. For Vehicles
TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS
 Natural gas is transported on land by two means; pipelines and cylinders.
 The use of cylinders means that only little amount of gas can be carried at
once.
  Refilling takes time, risk of explosion due to faulty cylinders is an added
concern.
 The cylinders are heavy and difficult to move
Why is natural gas an easy fuel to extract?
 Small size of land
 Little impact on environment
 Simple/small machinery
NUCLEAR ENERGY
- Released from atoms
- In atomic fission, energy is released when atoms split into smaller atoms.
- In atomic fusion, energy is released when atoms are joined together to
form a bigger atom that releases energy.
- Pakistan is utilizing nuclear energy for electricity of generation.
- KANUPPs established in Karachi. Four more nuclear power stations e.g.
CHASNUPP 1 and CHASHNUPP 2
- They are expensive to build, but relatively cheap to run. Also they produce
very low emissions of carbon dioxide.
- Along with imported power, nuclear energy contributed about 5.8% to
generation of electricity in 2011-12.
Advantages of nuclear energy:
1. A small quantity of uranium can generate a large amount of energy. Less than
500g of uranium contains 3 million more times energy than the same weight
of coal.
2. Chances of accidents in nuclear power stations are very low. Less number of
accidents than any other kind of power workers.
3. Nuclear energy can speed up the process of industrialization in Pakistan.
4. Environmentally friendly – contributes less than conventional fuels to the
greenhouse effect and acid rain
Disadvantages of nuclear energy:
1. Fuel rods in reactors produce dangerous ray which can cause cancer and
deformities on exposure.
2. Problems with reprocessing and storing nuclear waste – nuclear waste
remains radioactive for many years.
3. Not enough financial resources in Pakistan for nuclear power stations
4. Reliance on natural resources like winds, water, sunlight, etc. instead of non-
renewable is preferable
Thermal electricity
 In Pakistan, electricity is derived from three sources i.e. thermal, hydel, and
nuclear.
 Thermal includes electricity produced from petroleum, gas, nuclear fuel and
coal
  Hydel power (hydroelectricity) is obtained from running water, and nuclear
from atomic energy.
 In 2008-09, 66.8% energy came from thermal power, 32.9% from
hydroelectricity and the rest, 0.3% from nuclear energy.
 Main production centre for electricity in Sindh is Karachi. Other production
centres include Kotri, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Lahore, etc.
Electricity in Pakistan is transmitted through a national grid system that connects
all the provinces.
Advantages:
1. Every part of the country receives electricity according to its needs. If any
area generates less electricity than it needs, the storage is met from other
parts of the country.
2. In case of power failure in a particular, the loss is compensated instantly from
other areas.
Disadvantages:
1. Because of long distances, the transmission and distribution losses of
electricity are heavy, about 30%.
2. The transmission lines were laid at colossal cost and their maintenance also
demands heavy expenditure.
3. The heavy cost of laying and maintaining transmission lines to distant villages
with small populations is the main problem for rural electrification.
Why is burning of fossil fuels in power stations unsustainable?
1. Releases carbon dioxide  contributes to climate change
2. Can cause water pollution  oil spills from tankers and pipelines
3. Will exhaust/eventually run out
4. Fossil fuels are quite expensive and mostly have to be imported to meet
demand
Alternative energy resources
1. Biomass
2. Hydroelectric power
3. Wave and tidal power
4. Geothermal power
5. Solar power
6. Wind power

 Pakistan is an energy-deficient country and each year spends a large amount

of foreign exchange on importing oil to meet its energy requirements.
 Alternative resources: from sources that do not deplete natural resources or
harm the environment e.g. solar and wind power.
 Load shedding: planned powercuts by the supplier of electricity is known as
Load Shedding
 Effects of load shedding
1. Interrupts production
2. Damages machinery
3. Cannot meet deadlines
4. Delays contracts/orders
5. Loss of quality
6. Loss of orders
7. Loss of money/profit
8. Cost of generators
9. Lights/computers/freezers/air conditioning/heating etc. stops
Why can’t electricity meet the demands?
1. Population increasing so greater demand.
2. Little new investment in new power stations (foreign investors less willing to
invest due to political instability) (other government priorities such as
healthcare/ education/housing/transport/alleviating poverty);
3. Pakistan has small/inaccessible/depleting fossil fuel reserves (fossil fuels
expensive to extract/poor quality/ have to import);
4. Renewable energy plants expensive to construct;
5. Power losses due to old/long transmission lines;
6. Power theft (people diverting existing power sources for their own use);
7. Most people live in rural areas (electricity does not reach there/lack of
infrastructure/power lines);
8. Many power plants are not working to full capacity (as a result of siltation in
dams and reservoirs)/(they are still under construction);
9. Power breaks down (lack of expertise to handle it)/(due to old machinery);
10. More rural to urban migration (means demand cannot be fulfilled);
11. Seasonal variations (less HEP generation in winter as less rainfall/snowmelt at
times of peak demand).
Supplying electricity to rural areas
Possibilities
1. Extend national grid
2. Increase (national) power generation/nuclear power
3. More/good potential for renewable schemes, wind, solar, HEP
4. More small-scale power generation schemes E.g. biogas using animal/plant
waste/molasses
Limitations
1. High cost of technology/fuel/maintenance
2. Theft
3. Damage/energy loss due to long transmission lines/siltation in reservoirs for
HEP
4. Distance from grid stations/remoteness of some rural areas
5. Tribal opposition
 6. Insufficient power generation, so urban needs met first
7. Lack of government support/loans/investment/policies
8. Difficult construction in rugged/mountainous terrain
9. Lack of skilled personnel, e.g. engineers
Explain why the supply of electricity is not reliable in many parts of Pak.
1. Shortage due to lack of oil, gas, coal
2. Less water in reservoir due to silting. Less melting of glaciers
3. Damage to grid/transmission
4. Power theft
5. Demands exceed supply/increasing demands/load shedding

Hydroelectricity
 Uses the force of flowing water to spin hydroturbines.
 Hydro power plants: tarbela (indus), mangla (Jhelum), warsak (Kabul),
Renala, Rasul (all multi-purpose)
 How is it produced? Flow of water makes turbine spin rapidly, the shaft
spins rapidly inside a magnetic field in the generator, generating electricity.
Electric current is regulated by the transformer and sent through the power
line at the required voltage.
 Requirements for hydro electric power stations:
1. Developed on rivers in mountains (elevated areas)
2. Precipitation should be adequate
3. Steep sided glaciated valleys help in dam construction
4. Rivers should have a regular volume and flow for steady generation
5. Nearby industrial and domestic demand
6. Natural glacial lake or reservoir provides constant supply of water
7. A large reservoir so to store any un-required surge of water which might
have been wasted during rainy seasons. If this water is stored in the
reservoir then it can be used in future months to generate electricity.
8. The dam must not be located at or near a fault line. These areas are
prone to earthquakes, which can fatally lead to dam failures, sudden
flash floods and tragic loss of life.
Why are most hydel plants developed in the north?
Mostly located on rivers in the mountainous north as the rugged topography provides
a good head for the generation of electricity which means that the water falls from a
sufficient height onto the turbine, making it turn.
Ghazi Barotha Hydro-power Project
- Located on Indus River
- After passing through the powerhouse, the water is returned to the Indus
River, thus making this an environmentally and socio-economically viable
project.
Reasons why it is difficult to develop more HEP (hydel) power stations in
Pakistan
1. Climate change so less rainfall and higher temperatures and more
evaporation
2. Liable to siltation in reservoirs
3. High cost/high capital investment
4. Lack of skilled labour/expertise
What problems occur when supplying electricity from reservoirs to areas of
high population?
1. Long distance – high transportation cost
2. Loss by damage
3. Loss by theft
4. Loss of power by transmission lines
5. Cost of wires and poles
Why do reservoirs of dams like Mangla hold large quantities of water
(northern)?
1. Deep valley/high dam
2. Steep sides
3. Low evaporation/cool climate
4. High rainfall
Thermal power station HEP
Fossil fuels eventually exhausted Water is renewable – never exhausted
Cause pollution when burnt – not No burning. Environmentally friendly
environmentally friendly
Can be developed anywhere where Certain physical and climatic
fossil fuels are available requirements for development
Cheaper than HEP stations, but Initial cost of construction high,
running costs are high running cost is low

RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Solar power
 Electric power at remote places can be conveniently provided by solar
systems e.g. at the Women’s Art Centre, Okara. Solar plant: Quaid e
azam solar park
 Solar panels are tilted South in Pak as Pak is towards south of tropic of
cancer and the sun is south of Pak, allowing the panels to attain maximum
amount of sun rays.
 Solar home system has been installed in 3000 homes in Tharparkar.
 Potential: 40 GW
 Projects: Sindh Solar Energy (funded by World Bank $100mil dollars),
Indus Earth Trust
  Used in rural telephone exchanges, high emergency telephones,
refrigeration for medicines in hospitals, etc.
How is solar power used?
1. Collect it in solar cells (photovoltaic cells). Solar cells can power radios and
even small cars.
2. Solar furnaces use giant mirrors to focus the sun’s rays on a boiler. Steam
from the boiler is used to make electricity. Solar panels collect heat energy
from the sun.
The conditions in Pak are ideal for solar power. Why?
1. Has abundance of sunshine throughout the year – 250-300 sunny days
2. The length of the shortest day is around 9.5 hours
3. Even during the rainy season, there are very few clouds
4. High population density – more demand
Not advisable to construct solar power plants in deserts. Why?
1. Many sand and dust particles – require large maintenance cost
2. Sand and dust particles often hit the panels so can damage the panels and
cause corrosion
Advantages of solar power:
1. Running cost is low, no need to buy or import any fuel
2. Key to rural electrification e.g. at Keti Bandar, NGO established a localized
solar panel
3. Maintenance cost is low
4. Less pollution, more environmentally friendly (no combustion of gases)
Disadvantages of solar power:
1. High initial cost as many solar panels need to be installed for large-scale use
2. Unreliable nature of electricity (no electricity produced at night or on cloudy
days)
3. Not reliable for industrial and commercial uses as it is unreliable
4. Loss of land (land that can be utilized for agriculture, industries, etc. is lost)
5. Produces lesser electricity as compared to other power generation sources
Wind power
 The terms wind energy or wind power is used to describe the process by
which wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity.
 This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks such as grinding grain
or pumping water. A wind turbine has a generator which converts this power
into electricity.
 To provide electricity to a large area, turbines are connected to electrical
grids.
 Wind power plants at: Jhimpir, more being developed at Keti Bandar,
Gharo, Port Qasim, etc.
  The main location for wind energy projects in Pakistan is lower Sindh
Advantages:
1. Will never run out
2. Running cost is low, no need to buy or import fuel
3. Can be used independently and deployed locally in remote rural areas
4. Wind farms are interesting features of landscape, attracting tourism
5. Environmentally friendly – no combustion
Disadvantages:
1. High initial cost
2. Unreliable nature of fuel – strength of wind is not constant and varies from
zero to storm force, hence they don’t produce the same amount of electricity
all the time and stop working during storms
3. Can kill birds and bats, harming the fragile balance in ecosystem
4. 7500 wind turbines needed to produce the same amount of electricity as one
nuclear power plant
5. Loss of land – large wind farms needed to provide entire cities with enough
electricity
Potential of wind power in Pak
 High wind is available nearly all around the year in the coast of Pakistan.
The wind speed in Balochistan (Ormara, Jivani, and Pasni) and Karachi
is such that it can be used to generate electricity.
Geothermal power
 Geothermal is the energy derived from the heat of Earth’s core
 How is it used? It is produce from the Earth’s heat absorbed in
underground water (such as hot springs). Holes are drilled into the land to
pump out hot water. This hot water or steam is used to drive turbines to
generate electricity.
 Geothermal power is used in countries where favourable topographical
conditions exist like in New Zealand and Iceland such as geysers etc
Advantages:
1. Constant supply
2. Pollution free
3. Renewable – never runs out
Disadvantages:
1. High initial cost of construction
2. High cost of maintenance
3. Only can be developed in volcanic areas
4. Threat to power stations from eruptions and earthquakes
Potential of geothermal power
  Most of geothermal resources are in areas of crustal weakness like
plate margins and centres of volcanic activity.
 Pakistan has geothermal potential as large plate margin passes
through Pak and it lies in earthquake zone. The presence of a fairly
large number of hot springs in different parts of the country has also
been developed.
 Has potential in the Himalaya region and Chagai area in Balochistan
Plateau.
 Geothermal exploitation requires an integrated study based on:
1. Identifying geothermal sites
2. Estimating the size of the resource and the cost of its exploitation
3. Determining the heat content of fluids that will be discharged by
wells in the geothermal field.
Wave power
 Wave motion can be used to compress air to drive a turbine to generate
electricity.
 Potential in Pak:
- The Makran Coast has strong wave energy, which could be harnessed for
the generation of electric power for rapidly developing coastal cities like
Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Gadani, etc.
 However, wave power is an expensive option
 Not yet exploited in Pak
Tidal power
 Produces electricity by the movements of tides. The tide comes in and out
once, usually twice, in every 24 hours, due to gravitational pull of the moon.
 Waves recede throughout the day due to gravitational pull of the moon and
the sun.
 Potential: Sonmiani, Balochistan and Indus Deltaic Creek System
Advantages:
1. Running cost is low – no import or buying
2. Environmentally-friendly (no combustion)
3. Reliable – happens daily, twice
Disadvantages:
1. High initial cost
2. Threat to aquatic life – could kill fish and other aquatic animals
3. Disrupts local shipping
Biomass
What is biomass?
It is organic material, plants, and vegetable matter, both living and decaying, that can
be used as a fuel. It refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce
biofuel. For example, grasses, vegetable oils, sugarcane, methane captured from
landfill, livestock and municipal waste, etc.
 Gasification and fermentation can tap into this energy source to produce
energy for human use.
 In pak, village women make patties of cow dung, straw dung, and clay to dry
and use as home cooking fuel – inefficient use of biomass. It can cause
indoor pollution and danger to health causing lung and chest infections
 The gases produced during the process of generation of electricity through
biomass should be filtered by chimneys (a lot of gases are released after
decomposition) so carbon content is reduced.
 One good use of biomass is in production of biogas.
Biogas
 In a biogas plant, animal dung is fed into a closed container deprived of
oxygen.
 Bacteria and other micro-organisms then digest it and produce methane as a
result.
 This methane is used either for cooking or for producing electricity
 Ethanol production: corn  milling  saccharification (the process of
breaking down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars)  fermentation 
distillation  ethanol
 Why corn? Corn is easily grown (twice a year), corn can grow in poor soils w/
less fertility, and can be grown in less water as compared to sugarcane
 Ethanol cannot be used in vehicles (not compatible with engines), so we use
90% ethanol and 10% diesel to produce biodiesel (mainly used in vehicles)
 Biogas is an alternative to petroleum, and hence, reduces import burden
Advantages:
1. Reduces waste production
2. Saves fuelwood (can be used in areas where there are no gas pipelines), and
hence reduce deforestation
3. Eases lives of people, especially women, who trudge ever great distances to
collect wood for fuel
4. Cheap source of fuel
Disadvantages:
1. Does not produce gas in large quantities (can’t be used for industrial
purposes)
2. Can only be constructed in rural areas as it requires agricultural waste to be
produced
3. Using cow dung for biogas means that it can no longer be used as manure.
Since farmers need to add organic nutrients to their fields, this will lead to soil
infertility.
4. Will increase air pollution because methane is a greenhouse gas.
 By 1985-86, more than 4000 biogas units were installed, but most of them
are already in disuse and further expansion in this field is doubtful.
Why is contribution of renewable energy sources, besides hydel, smaller in
pak compared to rest of the world?
1. Expensive to build renewable energy sources – Pakistan lacks capital
investment
2. Limited skills – less people educated on how to operate these technologies
3. Want to use up coal/gas reserves first (they are cheaper to use due to
presence of reserves)
4. Reliant on other countries to help develop renewable energy sources
WAPDA and KESC are the main organisations involved in power generation,
transmission, and distribution of electricity. KANUPP and IPP (independent private
producers) are also involved in power generation
National Grid System
 The National Grid connects hydel generation in the north and thermal
generation in mid country and the south managed by WAPDA and KESC.
 It consists of a large network of transmission lines and grid stations to
transmit power to load centers and then to commercial and domestic
consumers throughout the country.
 The purpose of forming a National Grid System is to supply
electricity to different areas according to their requirements and not
on the basis of their own power generation.
 For example, some areas of Pakistan where heavy industries are located
require more electricity than they are capable of generation supplying
electricity through the National Grid System solves this problem.
 On the other hand, there are some areas where more electricity is
generated than their actual requirements.
 This surplus electricity can then easily be transferred to other areas
through this system.
 However, there is lot of wastage of electricity through the transmission
lines and grid stations if they are not properly maintained, also due to the
long distances involved
In 2016-17, hydel generation accounted for 30% of electricity generated, nuclear
6% and thermal electricity 64%
Why is there a shortage of energy supply in Pakistan?
1. Many power plants not working to full capacity due to financial constraints,
lack of technical expertise, and poor maintenance facilities.
2. During winter, hydel power generation decreases with reduced flow of water
in rivers. Also no melting of glaciers.
3. The National Grid supplies electricity to all the provinces. Long transmission
lines cause losses of electricity
4. Siltation in the reservoirs of dams also causes disruption in electricity
generation by reducing flow of water
5. Power theft occurs on a large scale. Loss and theft from KESC was approx
41%. WAPDA suffered about 21% losses in transmission and distribution.
6. High price of fossil fuels increases the cost of electricity generation
7. Industrialization, urbanization, and rural electrification have decreased
demand for electricity.
Rural electrification
 67.5% of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas, where even the basic
necessities aren’t available
 Rural development programmes: Village aid, Basic democracy and
rural works programmes
 It should be in densely populated regions so that there is more revenue
generation
 Should be nearer to transmission lines to reduce transmission costs
 Topography also matters – government will carry out rural electrification in
flat lands as construction is easier there.
Advantages of rural electrification
1. Tube wells can be installed for irrigation – will control waterlogging and
salinity, and increase agricultural production
2. Small-scale industries can be developed to provide employment and meet
demands for industrial goods
3. Standard of living increases: people can use electrical appliances
4. People can receive electronic media and access information technology
5. Working hours would increase, leading to an increase in salaries
Constraints to rural electrification
1. Many small villages like in KPK and Balochistan are far from transmission
lines
2. Cost of laying and maintaining transmission lines is high and is an extra
burden on the country’s already meagre economic resources
3. Not economically feasible. Government set limit so that in KPK and Sindh,
villages w fewer than 1000 people and in Balochistan fewer than 300
people will not be supplied.
Power resources and economic development
Power resources are important in following ways:
1. Almost all industrial plants use power in processing raw materials – power
shortages reduce production of industrial goods and increases cost of
production, lowering GDP
2. Modernization of agriculture is dependent on power resources – tubewells,
machineries, tractors, harvesters, etc. are all run by power
3. Power resources are used in exploration and extraction of minerals.
Derricks, bulldozers, drills, and explosives and trucks all need fuel/power
to operate.
4. If power resources are produced locally, the dependence on imported
power resources is reduced. This will help to save foreign exchange
resources and improves the balance of payment
5. All electrical appliances and IT devices such as computers, cellphones, TV
radio, and many other gadgets run on power/electricity
6. In recent years, economic development has become dependent on
communication devices which cannot operate without an efficient power
supply.
Sustainable development
In order to have sustainable development of power resources the following
measures must be taken.
 The development of renewable resources of energy by using advanced
technology.
 The preservation and conservation of the non-renewable resources of
the earth to guard against the danger of their future exhaustion.
 The protection of the environment by enforcing the strict laws through
environment protection.
 Faulty and damaged transmission lines should be replaced on an
emergency basis to avoid losses in electricity.
 Strict measures to avoid the chances of theft
 Public awareness programme should be introduced through the media
and government and private institutions