Policy Analysis of Thermal Power Generation in Pakistan

Provision of affordable and environmental friendly energy is a national concern. Pakistan is not endowed sufficiently with energy resources and has to import energy resources from the gulf countries mainly from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Energy policy has been the less researched field in Pkaistan. It is believed to be a ministerial subject with least or no input from other stakeholders like academia, industry and general populace. Under this research we have conducted a detailed survey amongst all the above mentioned stakeholders. The survey comprised of the following five aspects, that were focused in detail i.e. thermal power generation capability and suitability with refrence to Pakistani energy and climate scenarios, legislation capability and local capacity, social awareness and subsidy, energy efficiency and energy audit, industry academia collaboration. Regular policy making was started in mid 1990s. before that there has been no regular power policy and major mpart of the electric power came through the hydel power generation. Since only hydel was not enough to cater to the needs of a growing economy, injection of thermal became necessary. Afterwards i.e the first formal power policy of  1994 the power generation shifted more towards thermal power mode and by this day Pakistan has 62% of power generating from thermal power i.e. fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. Pakistan is one of the most seriously affected country with climate change effects. Climate change effects and availability of power should be traded off to have a workable solution.