Pakistan should pursue clean energy instead of relying on coal, report suggests
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Cash-strapped Pakistan should pursue clean energy instead of relying on coal, nuclear and hydroelectric power, according to a report released on Wednesday urging the country's policymakers to rethink plans for building more coal-fired plants.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Ohio, said coal-fired power, one of the central pillars of Pakistan's energy deals with China, is a costlier and dirtier alternative to wind or solar energy, which China is also supplying but to a lesser degree.
Simon Nichols, an energy finance analyst with the institute, told The Associated Press that China is dumping its dirtier coal-fired systems on developing nations while leading the world in renewable resource systems that will find a market in developed countries as they move away from fossil fuels.
“There is no such thing as clean coal,” said Nichols.
Also read: Why Pakistan's power woes will get worse
China is putting Pakistan deeper in debt with planned coal-fired and liquefied natural gas plants, which will soon be outdated, he said.
China is financing major development projects in Pakistan, which is seeking an $8 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund as it faces dwindling foreign exchange reserves. In mid-October, Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves were $8.1 billion, which hardly covers the cost of two months of imports, according to the Institute.
Pakistan says China's up to $75 billion development project in Pakistan, known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is an effort to reconstruct the historic Silk Road linking China to all corners of Asia which will bring new prosperity to the country, where the average citizen lives on just $125 a month.
The sprawling package includes everything from road construction and coal-fired power plants.
“With renewable technology set to get cheaper in the future, a build-out of coal-fired power risks locking Pakistan into decades of outdated technology,” the report said.
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On DawnNews
Comments (50) Closed
Dec 05, 2018 09:46pm
China bowled a googly
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Dec 05, 2018 09:46pm
Ohh what about Engro Sindh GOv power project ,,,,,,
So much of capital and time wasted did they not carried a environment study done
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Dec 05, 2018 09:56pm
During Z.A. Bhutto's time as PM, several world famous experts on coal were engaged to suggest possible use of our very large coal deposits discovered in Sindh. All reports had found our coal with high content of sulphur as a part. Therefore, they suggested not to use it for power generation because it would produce acid rains that would damage our agriculture very seriously, apart from causing other serious health hazards. Bhutto had directed to stop even thinking about coal for Power Generation.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:00pm
Do we currently t have any coal-fired plants ?
Thar coal project is not active for years.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:11pm
I would dispute this report. Wind and solar energy cannot reliably power a country. Any nation will need Gas, oil or coal power plants to handle a base load when wind and solar are not providing enough electricity. Our coal power is not significant, in fact we could even increase it as any developing nation does. From India to Poland most of their electricity is produced using coal, as it is cheaper than gas and oil. Most of these renewable energy think tanks ignore the fundamental problem: Solar and wind do not provide a base load, which is necessary for any country, and thus at the moment cannot be used alone to power a nation.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:14pm
Humbantota developmental model is being pursued everywhere by the Iron Brother.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:20pm
Rubbish. China is always thinking of Pakistan's best interests.
On 14th Aug, 2020, China will announce that all CPEC related debt is a gift to the people of Pakistan from the great people of China.
China is our one good friend.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:21pm
Everything our iron friend does is fine and fair and doesn’t need any scrutiny from outsiders.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:29pm
Wake up call for Pakistan. Please invest in clean energy instead of using those fuels which may cause disastrous outcomes for our coming generations.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:47pm
Who say that. We will do whatever will be best for Pakistan. All choices are fine. Stop fooling countries. Tell US, India and China and Canada the polluters of our green planet.
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Dec 05, 2018 10:58pm
They have dumped all outdated equipment and dirty coal at a premium price and we need to do something about it!!
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Dec 05, 2018 11:02pm
It will be impossible for Pakistan to read the writings on the wall, as long as a cooperation with China goes. Pakistan refuses to see the reality.
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Dec 06, 2018 12:19am
While the US has pulled out of the Paris climate accord and is encouraging its own coal industry, it wants developing nations to do the exact opposite and opt for expensive renewables which have plant factors as low as 10%. Enough of this nonsense, we should do want is best in our interests.
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Dec 06, 2018 12:23am
Sooner Pakistan wakes up the better.
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Dec 06, 2018 12:37am
Pakistan should pursue clean energy instead of relying on coal, report suggests
The question is why it is not paying heed to this suggestion or recommendation?
Why our energy policy makers putting the environment and health of the Citizens at a
very high risk?
Are they not satisfy of the current level of pollution and toxic air quality of Pakistan?
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Dec 06, 2018 01:00am
A very correct agreeable analysis by energy finance analyst, that coalfired power plants based upon outdated Chinese technology are costlier & Impacting climate change. Pakistan, is already in the eye of the storm because of changes in the weather pattern- a major cause of glacier melting & flash flooding, rise of ambient temperature due to accumulation of greenhouse gases causing drought in many parts of the country, must rethink its present strategy. A recent news regarding Chinese sponsored Thar coalfired project causing people of the area to suffer from respiratory & waterborne diseases, malnutrition of children & other disastrous effects, are ill effects of a very poorly conceived economic venture. Pakistan, apart from paying back high cost of debt servicing in near future will have to pay additional cost of correcting environmental degradation in form Omni present smog immediate vicinity & other far off locations,pollution of surface & underground water resources due to coal dust
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Dec 06, 2018 01:04am
We should not rely too much on coal but a bit of everything with an emphasis on renewables as the price per unit of power for renewables is dropping every day and we are blessed with an abundance of sunshine to be converted into electricity!
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Dec 06, 2018 01:16am
If we are going to pay China to build more electricity, why not go for Wind/Solar/Hydroelectric instead. Never liked Coal, dirtiest source of energy by far.
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Dec 06, 2018 03:18am
@Patriotic 786, Fake comment, sulfur contents in coal insignificant. May be someone took samples from Sulphur pit. Major US, China and Indian Power plants run by coal. Pakistan should pursue any possible source of energy. Bad for environment comment is for rich countries who have used coal for centuries and now scaring other emerging economies.
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Dec 06, 2018 03:19am
It is rather intriguing that instead of harvesting the unlimited UV power available in thar, they want to creating a mere half or so GW of power at huge monetary and environmental price. As if the government does not know that renewable technologies are now readily available and in the UK and Scandenavia those have even surpassed the fossil fuel electricity production, both financially and environmentally. Is there anyone listening out there...sindh govt....
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Dec 06, 2018 03:51am
Pakistan has already started to build power plants using solar and wind energy albeit the program is in initial stage and hence slow, but going on a "learning curve" the impact on using the above solar and wind energy systems will expand. Also battery storage technology is yet to be developed further to make these renewable technologies economically feasible.
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Dec 06, 2018 04:50am
@Patriotic 786, adding scrubbers to the exhaust brings pollution to same level as other technologies. please google it. all pak.need to do.is add scrubbers.
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Dec 06, 2018 04:52am
The key is the advancement in distribution systems with theft detection and giving people attractive benefits in net metering, as push in Solar energy. The other side of coin is the mass power production from wind power in Sindh.
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Dec 06, 2018 04:55am
@Indians, the buyers as guilty as the sellers. Hambabtota is a functioning port, your anti-China comments are out of context.
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Dec 06, 2018 04:58am
america is putting coal fired plants into their grid too. do the research before putting in invalid comments. yes, wind and solar are better, but cost more too.
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Dec 06, 2018 05:00am
You cannot blame China if it can find someone gullible enough to buy its old, used, dirty. coal power plants and even willing to pay good money for them. It is a "buyer beware' world, Pakistan has to watch for its own interest no one else will. What happened to your brains?
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Dec 06, 2018 05:02am
@Jamal, Keep dreaming
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Dec 06, 2018 05:05am
China is basically dumping garbage(coal). the world is heading for renewable energy and these guys are dumping coal.
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Dec 06, 2018 05:16am
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of coal during 2017:
Mongolia: $2.2 billion (2%)
China: $1.1 billion (1%)
Poland: $816.9 million (0.7%)
Kazakhstan: $445.3 million (0.4%)
North Korea: $403.6 million (0.4%)
Philippines: $337.4 million (0.3%)
Czech Republic: $331.9 million (0.3%)
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Dec 06, 2018 05:34am
China is dumping its dirtier coal-fired systems on developing nations while leading the world in renewable resources. _ Clearly a fact. China is slowly backing away from coal fired electric plants.
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Dec 06, 2018 05:35am
Surprised nobody researched on the pollution problems with coal. All 7 should be shutdown. What a waste of an effort by building coal plants.
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Dec 06, 2018 07:00am
No one cared about the outdated coal plants China pushed in CPEC, they are inefficient, costly to operate and pollutes. World is going towards ultramodern plants.
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Dec 06, 2018 07:01am
@Jamal, with China nonfree lunches. We need to learn from Srilanka and Maldives.
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Dec 06, 2018 07:07am
Nice to see “concerned “ neighbors commenting.
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Dec 06, 2018 07:09am
Coal may not be clean - but coal fired electricity is better than no energy. Having said that, I believe it is imperative that Pakistan develops alternative/ renewable energy through indigenous technological development. It does not involve rocket science. A nation that could develop nuclear capability despite world-wide efforts to block it - can surely develop alternative energy production capability. We must seriously invest in research and development of solar, tidal (ocean-waves) and wind energy. We should even seriously try to install small-scale methane gas production plants on top of our urban waste dumps, at least in major cities like Karachi. These gas plants can be very cheap and of short life-cycle - nothing very permanent. All they do is capture the obnoxious methane gas that emits anyway for decomposing garbage - package and supply it as fuel.
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Dec 06, 2018 07:40am
Now that it is Pakistan's turn to use Coal for Energy there is a silly advice not to do so,why?Pakistan truly is
blessed to have Coal in the Sindh Province.China,India,U.S. and others have been using Coal since long
time.We are an independent country and we must only follow what is good economically for Pakistan.
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Dec 06, 2018 08:56am
India is running coal power plant for years and years. There is a coal power plant across the border from thar. Australia and others countries are using coal as a cheap source of energy. When it comes to Pakistan, its like the end of the world. Why making such a great issue. We have plenty plenty of coal and we can burn it. Whats the issue here
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Dec 06, 2018 09:38am
@Rizwan, it’s easy to criticize and difficult to execute. Cleanest form of energy is through dams but you cannot build them overnight and there is very high upfront cost. When you need energy immediately with lease cost then you build these coal power plants as short term gap fix in parallel to building dams.
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Dec 06, 2018 09:54am
India has lot of coal mines but it is fully investing on getting rid of fusel-fuels. this is simple because India can foresee what is coming. developed nation will control poor nations by emissions. It is already started..
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Dec 06, 2018 11:21am
@Indians, why India is making maximum energy from coal power plants
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Dec 06, 2018 11:22am
@Rizwan, we are investing in future
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Dec 06, 2018 12:17pm
I think I’m the position it finds itself in Pakistan should focus on energy clean or dirty or coal or solar or lunar
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Dec 06, 2018 12:20pm
Pakistan first. No thank you. Pakistan will continue to use coal and other resources to provide energy to it nation.
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Dec 06, 2018 01:05pm
@Farhan, You say "@Jamal, with China nonfree lunches. We need to learn from Srilanka and Maldives." So do you also believe that India is doing a great humane act by lending a billion dollars to Maldive to get out of the Chinese investments? What do you expect to learn from that??
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Dec 06, 2018 03:34pm
Pakistan should stay away from coal fired energy projects because of health of it's people. No country should be trusted blindly. Take to task the people who signed such projects.
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Dec 06, 2018 05:41pm
Go ahead with the coal project. No need to listen to anyone.
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Dec 06, 2018 06:05pm
We do need a good mix of power production. Right now we're mostly on oil and gas and some from hydroelectric power and a tiny bit nuclear. We can have coal now, as our energy needs will continue to increase anyway. The newer ones can be based on other technologies.
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Dec 06, 2018 06:27pm
Compared to India, China, Europe,US we are generating a minuscule amount of electricity using coal.
Even with these planned investments, it still would only provide a small percentage of our energy mix.
Other countries are going to continue burning fossil fuels long into the future.
Infact China is still building coal fire plants, just not as may as before.
Also if it's replacing the fuel oil fired power plants that we built during the PPP era then it an only be a good thing.
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Dec 06, 2018 08:31pm
Pakistan must use its local coal to the maximum . This advice is not sincere as they are themselves reviving coal mining. Continue to develop coal mining and electrical production using local resources.
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Dec 07, 2018 01:54am
This is so true. Why are we going back? Green energy is the want of our future.
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