Expensive energy mix

Deliberate policy of aversion to generate electricity from renewable sources such as hydel, wind, solar and vast domestic reserves of coal has landed the country in a trap of very expensive energy mix. Pakistan meets its two-third energy requirements from costly fuel oil and RLNG imported on a price two times more than the international price. Currently, the share of RLNG stands at 34.6 percent and fuel oil at 31.2 percent in electricity generation.

Greater reliance on thermal power generation, particularly, oil and gas has made its tariff unaffordable for all categories of consumers. It cuts the very root of the economy and government has to take a decision to provide electricity at subsidized tariff of 7.5 cents per unit and gas at 6.5 cents per mmbtu to export industries to make its products competitive in global market. Hopefully, the present government will priortised formulation of long term power generation policy for achieving optimal energy mix by substantially increasing the percentage of hydel, solar and wind power generation.