EVERY YEAR, Karachiites suffer electric power load-sheddings in summer, to be compounded with higher tariffs and further increases and total unreliability of power supply.

Those of us who have seen this city in the early 60’s, when the power supply was quite efficient, and who are now customers (the Utility insists on calling us consumers) have been left with no option but to suffer.

Though the supply of the natural gas fuel seems to be comparatively reliable, with the proposed sale of all our gas fields to private enterprises, the gas prices are also likely to go up in not too distant future.

The present approach of making available huge amounts of tax payers’ money for bailing out the utility companies is merely compounding the problems. Not only quality engineering has been ignored, the problem of power ‘stealing’ has been deliberately shelved. Of course, the “kundas” are not even worth discussing since various lame excuses are given for tackling the issue.

Power utilities all around the world rely on large industrial and commercial customers to sustain them. In Pakistan, a large number of industrial customers have stopped subscribing for and have invested heavily on the in-house power generation. Thus an unnecessary confrontation has been created between the most profitable segment of the utility’s business partners and its managers. It seems they are far too busy building their international reputation. Technically, it is quite simple to check— even informing the customers—whether the billing is correct or not. Instead of resorting to good engineering, we have used muscle, and sometimes guns, to create this confrontation. Thus the Greater Karachi is doomed unless we employ some honest and competent managers to control the situation.

The attempts to transfer the Hub Power to Karachi to solve its load-shedding problem would be like putting the last nail in the coffin. We will never be able to get out of spiralling tariff increases if that is allowed to happen. Hub Power is not only a very expensive source of power but since it is the most inefficient IPP, the power costs cannot be brought down to any reasonable level. It was Wapda that wanted this power plant and it is only Wapda which can afford its expensive rates as it can, mix cheaper power tariff from existing hydel stations. Karachi simply cannot afford this expensive power and it must stay away from Hub Power.

So what do we do to solve Karachi’s energy problems. The solutions are not simple (as for any place in the world with only thermal power plant option), as possibilities of reliable and lower cost power supply demand proper planning and management. Power stations feeding Karachi are the worst ones.

Many developed and developing countries have not only turned to combined heat and power systems (co-generation, not to be confused with the new buzz-word eco-generation, to be ultimately followed in a “few” years time in Pakistan). These countries have legislated laws to ensure that the benefits of these highly efficient systems result in less power tariffs.

Several managements in industrial sector, specially textiles, have not only realised the significance of energy efficiency but have started reaping benefits of lower input costs in the highly competitive export market. They could have shared these benefits with the Utility if, alas, they had some common grounds.

Even the infamous 1994 Energy Policy gave priority to co-generation but the greed of multinationals ensured that corrupt politicians got their way. It is really unfortunate that instead of the required 2,000 mw being achieved through efficient co-generation in existing industries, we invested our future in inefficient and most polluting power plants, thanks to the most selfish role of “experts” associated with global institutions.

The result is that we are stuck with these costly power plants for the next 20 years or so. This has also slowed down our development of Thar coal-based power plants, unlike what we accepted at Lakhra. Those three 50 mw power plants were a debacle and a blot on engineering design. While on a visit to China during that period, we discussed the absence of suitable experience with fluidised bed technology using Lakhra’s poor coal quality but ambitious thinking got the better of things.

Now back to the solution for Karachi’s energy requirements. For the next 10 to 15 years, we will continue to be totally dependent on thermal power plants located in and around Karachi. After that, hopefully eco-generation should start taking control, with wind, ocean and solar thermal powers leading the way. For now, Karachi has to fall back on the great potential available with Sui Southern Gas Co. (SSGC). Sui gas supply, if properly supported by the government and boosted through cross-country pipe lines, we are sure to achieve our short-term goals.

However, the SSGC is a villain also since it (unlike SNGPL at Lahore) is generating power in its own building in a very inefficient way. One may ask, how are they allowed to do so when the rules do not permit generation of power in buildings? However, the following points will explain why the rules do not allow the SSGC to solve Karachi’s power problems at this juncture:

1: Many industries in the city of Karachi use Sui gas for generating steam and hot water for their own requirements. This gas supply is sanctioned by the SSGC. Similarly, if a commercial building required gas supply for central air-conditioning, there would be also no problem. However, enormous amount of precious gas is wasted on these two processes. But if you were to approach the SSGC asking them to allow the use of the same gas for co-generation (same quantity flow and same pressure), this would not only provide all the steam/hot water/thermal energy that you produced earlier, but could also generate electric power “free of any fuel cost”. But you may ask: how could anyone have to face a problem like this? You are only informing them of change of equipment (as per contract with SSGC). But the rules do not allow sanction of gas supply for power generation unless you are an export-oriented industry. If such simple requirements of energy conservation can not be enforced, how can we expect solution of Karachi’s problems?.

If you did not need additional gas and still produced extra power, what would this take to invest capital with a very good rate of return? There are hundreds of industries and commercial buildings using Sui gas which could easily co-generate and sell power at a rate much less than IPPs and still earn enough money. You will be surprised to know that the utility in California (USA) (three times the size of whole Pakistan grid) buys power from small power plants (100 to 500 kw generation) in a very just buy- sell arrangement. Now they are moving even further with distributed generation (DG) where you would see 60 kw microturbines in homes and shops tied to the massive grid.

2: The SSGC is aware that modern efficient power generation equipment needs higher pressure gas supply (much higher than nominal 8 paisa pressure sanctioned by them). If this is not available, some efficient power plants have to use gas compressors which not only increase capital costs but also the operating costs since such gas compressors could easily consume 7-8 per cent of gross power, creating inefficiencies right at the power plant. Many countries, as well as SNGPL for it’s own building at Lahore, supply gas at higher pressures since technically, the natural gas supply entering the city is at very high pressure.