October 25, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 25, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 24: Amid widespread protests across the country against the massive increase in power tariff, participants of a seminar held here on Thursday evening condemned the KESC for pursuing the policy of keeping its power generation capacity at lower side to save cost of furnace oil, and also Nepra for its “non-transparent” recommendations.

They called for introducing greater differential tariff to discourage excessive use of energy by commercial concerns and big houses. Difference could be provided as cross subsidy to the poor, they said.

The seminar on “Energy conservation in power sector” was organised by the Institution of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEEP).

Former PPP senator Taj Haider, who was the chief guest, was highly critical of tariff hike and the overall energy policy. He called for urgent measures for making low-cost alternative energy sources.

He flayed the new KESC management, especially for deliberately keeping its plants nonfunctional despite availability of furnace oil and getting electricity tariff increased.

He also criticised the role of Nepra and described its recommendations as “non-transparent” agreeing that the government should put energy projects for public scrutiny and go for broader public consultation while taking major decisions.

He emphasised the need for adopting fast track measures for linking Thar Coal project into the national grid to meet the growing needs while pressing into service rental power plants to meet the immediate interim needs. Ainul Abedin, the main speaker, argued that most of the thermal power plants, including Hubco and Bin Qasim, ignored the principles of basic engineering and basic economics.

“The plants are highly inefficient and polluting. Wapda and KESC made these selections when better technologies were available. They switched to furnace oil when it was clear that cost will go up in future. Use of natural gas was abused by providing it to industry at a very low cost,” he observed.

Mr Abedin was appreciative of the induction of coal-based power plants and suggested: “We should opt for gasification process of coal and use coal gas for generation.”

Dr Mozzaffar Mahmood overviewed the historical trend and experience of energy conservation. He explained how much heat is wasted in poorly designed houses and other structures.

Engr Ahmad Hasan, with the help of final year students of electronic engineering department, has developed the design and prototype of low-cost pre-paid energy meters that could curb power theft.

Engr Tahir Saleem focused on industrial installation and explained how much power was wasted by using inefficient electrical machinery and equipment.

The seminar recommended that micro and mini hydro-electric power plants should be the priority and not big dams.

It also recommended ways and means to conserve energy and enhance power generation capacity through windmills, solar energy and other sources.