THE long-term energy plan, known as the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2021-30, has finally been approved. It has two major goals; one, to supply low-cost and environment-friendly electricity, and, two, optimal utilisation of indigenous energy resources. For the purpose, additional power generation during the next 10 years is planned using hydropower and renewable energy resources, and nuclear power, besides developing vast Thar coal resources.

But the plan is flawed as it envisages increasing total generation capacity of renewable energy, including solar, wind power and others but excluding hydropower, from the existing five per cent to around 12pc in the overall energy mix by 2030, whereas the share of nuclear power will remain static at 7pc.

These two resources provide affordable electricity. However, given the above scenario, the emphasis of the plan remains on using fossil fuels, which means that electricity will remain expensive.

Hydropower is least-cost energy, but the document includes capital-intensive mega hydropower projects, which on completion will generate costly electricity. Moreover, no hydropower project of, or less than, 50MW capacity has been included in the plan.

While approving the plan, the relevant authorities have redefined the renewable energy to include all hydropower projects as well. With this single act of redefinition, the share of renewable energy, as per the IGCEP, has increased to 55pc of the total energy mix. Renewable energy is internationally recognised as power from resources or processes that are constantly replenished or renewed and have low environmental impact, like solar, wind power, biomass etc., and small-capacity hydropower of up to 40MW.

Till now, Pakistan had accepted hydropower projects up to 50MW installed capacity as renewable energy, as was defined in the Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019. Large hydropower projects can damage natural habitats and cause deforestation, and are not associated with renewable energy, which is actually what is green and clean.

Hussain Siddiqui
Islamabad

POLARISATION: With every passing day, we, as a nation, are sliding down the path of social and political chaos at a pace that continues to gain momentum owing to polarisation in every field of life. Those who matter seem to be at loggerheads, while abusive language and public spats are common. The slide, if one needs a reminder, started when a power-hungry bureaucrat manipulated his way to the office of the country’s governor-general and then played one dirty trick after another. It is unfortunate that we, and, indeed, our leadership, failed to learn a lesson, allowing things to worsen all these years.

Syed Safdar Hussain
Karachi

ECONOMIC POLICIES: This refers to the news item ‘Trade gap widens by over 100pc in 1QFY22’ (Oct 5). The country’s balance of payments is worsening each month as evidenced from the widening trade gap during the first quarter of 2021-22. During September alone, the trade deficit expanded to $4.1 billion. If the trend continues, the country may end the year with a whopping trade deficit of $45-50 billion. The Constitution is silent about those who weaken the economy.

Huma A. Majeed
Karachi

NOT A FITTING FAREWELL: In the demise of Dr A.Q. Khan, the nation has lost a hero who made the country’s defence impregnable. It was disappointing and agonising that the top civil and military leadership stayed away from the man’s last rites. Can a nation be so ungrateful?

Arif Majeed
Karachi

OUR BENEFACTORS: Dr A.Q Khan was a hero we had but did not deserve. History will forever remember him as the man who made Pakistan world’s first and only Islamic nuclear power.

His life and death are painful reminders of how we fail to value our benefactors while they are among us, and issue customary statements about the ‘sad demise’ once they are gone.

Warda Saqib
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2021