CSS Current Affairs | National Energy Efficiency Policy of Pakistan | Daily Writeup | Opinions
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Mohsin Ali under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- A cursory glance at the energy profile of Pakistan:
3- Vision behind the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy of Pakistan (NEECP)
4- Key features of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy of Pakistan(NEECP)
5- Key critics of the national energy efficiency policy
6- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Energy is the primary need of a country to run its machinery as it fuels the industry, transport, household, and agriculture. Reliable and affordable energy is fundamental to a country’s progress. Ironically, Pakistan has been facing a crisis in energy and has not yet succeeded in putting this genie into a bottle. Furthermore, Pakistan has already set the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. To counter these issues, the government of Pakistan has taken an energy-saving initiative. In this regard, the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy 2023 has been implemented by the government of Pakistan, aiming at capital saving, curtailing shortfalls, and reducing greenhouse gases as the efficiency and conservation of energy is more sustainable for Pakistan in this era of global inflation. Thus, Saving one unit of energy is always cheaper than producing one unit of energy. This national policy has been implemented under the umbrella of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority ( NEECA)
A cursory glance at the energy profile of Pakistan
High dependence on imported fossil fuels, obsolete infrastructure, and poor governance have exacerbated the energy crisis in Pakistan. According to the economic survey of Pakistan 2023, the energy mix has 58% thermal, 25% hydel, and 9% nuclear power. In addition, the Demand-supply gap has also increased the shortage in the power sector, as Pakistan’s energy demand has reached 29000 MW compared to the 22000 MW supply, creating a Gap of 7000 MW. The fragile condition of the energy has uplifted the need for actions and long-term policies to reduce shortfall and to save the country’s capital, and the National Efficiency and Conservation Energy Policy (NEECP) 2023 is one of the initiatives.
The vision behind the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy of Pakistan (NEECP)
An Increase in energy prices, a decrease in foreign exchange reserves, a high demand for energy, and the need for good environmental practices are the main drivers behind the government’s plan of efficiency and conservation policy. To address these issues, the national energy efficiency policy is aimed at reducing energy import bills, industrial competitiveness, transitioning to environmentally friendly energy, and reducing power shortages. According to The director of NEECA, this policy can save more than 15% of the energy. Furthermore, this energy policy will contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Key features of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy of Pakistan(NEECP)
National efficiency and conservation policy of Pakistan (NEECP) was formulated by the then government in July 2023 under the promulgation of National energy efficiency and conservation act 2016. The policy is working under the regulatory framework of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA).
Strategic Sectors of NEECP
- ✓Industrial sector
The industrial sector uses 37% of the energy and is highly energy intensive. The following measures are to be implemented by the policy: ban motors from having lower international efficiency class 2 standards by 2027 and replace and retrofit less efficient industrial equipment with high efficiency by 2028. In addition, the placement of energy management systems in industries by 2028 is also in consideration.
- ✓Building sector
The building sector includes residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. With a growing population, buildings are being constructed more rapidly, and residential buildings alone consume 22% of the final energy consumption. The policy has some key measures to enhance building energy efficiency: In new buildings, energy efficiency compliances are implemented according to the energy conservation building codes. In old buildings, implementation of mandatory energy audits with a five-year energy conservation plan and annual surveys for energy-efficient appliances and equipment ( Fan, air-conditioners, LED lights). Furthermore, the Deployment of solar panels and the subsidies for solar panels have been added to the policy. By these measures, the government is projected to save 92 billion rupees.
- ✓Transport sector
The transport sector consumes 30% of total energy and burns liquid imported fuel. The number of vehicles is increasing by 10% annually. For this reason, the electricity of existing vehicles and the provision of new electrical vehicles(EVs) in the market will be made with the collaboration of the National Electric Vehicle Policy 2019. Furthermore, annual tune-up certification of internal combustion engine vehicles is also included in this policy. Thus, this will be 86 billion rupees.
- ✓Agriculture sector
The agriculture sector consumes 1.5% of total energy consumption. Diesel and oil-powered irrigation systems are extremely inefficient. The following measures will be taken into consideration: Increase in efficiency and solarisation of water pumps and tube wells by 2024 and implementation of fuel economy standards by 2025.
- ✓Power sector
The major challenge of Pakistan’s power sector is distribution loss, increasing to 20% for some DISCOs. The installed power generation capacity is more than 41,000 MW, whereas the 22000 MW supply can not meet the peak demand of 29000 MW. NEECP is set to support the National Electricity Policy 2021 to make the power sector more efficient through some key measures: Joint establishment of cells at all the DISCOs for the improvement of the system, annual Heat rate assessment of GENCOs and IPPs to ensure highly efficient performance in collaboration with NEPRA, and the mechanism of energy-efficient electricity appliances during connection across commercial, household, and industrial sector. Additionally, design and implementation of renewable energy resources. In addition to it, the early closure of commercial markets to reduce power consumption. By implementing the policy, 62 billion rupees will be saved.
- ✓Petroleum sector
The petroleum sector, with 70% of its share in the primary energy supply of the country, including 22% of oil, 30% of gas, 10% of LNG, and 1.5% of LPG, has a major part in imports. So, there is a high potential for energy saving in this sector by implementing some key measures: Design and implement energy loss reduction programmes as per international standards, winter load management plans in the gas sector, and Assessment of load profile of domestic, commercial, and industrial gas consumers.
Key critics of the national energy efficiency policy
- Disintegration between the Federal and provisional institutes can lead to ineffective implementation, and there is a need to get provinces on board.
- Traders and business community’s criticism and resistance to the power conservation plan as early closure of markets is part of the plan.
- Lack of pragmatism can lead to poor implementation.
- Coal has not been addressed much as it has more adverse effects on the environment and takes a huge amount of money in imports.
- Lack of funds for replacement of energy efficient compliances and shift to clean energy resources.
Conclusion
The national energy efficiency and conservation policy is an initiative taken by the Pakistani government to support Pakistan’s energy sector by conserving more energy at the country level. As Pakistan has been struggling with its energy crisis, saving energy is a more reliable step than producing high-cost energy. It will be a sigh of relief for the energy sector. The policy has implementations for the power, agricultural, industrial, transport, and commercial sectors of Pakistan. Challenges in the implementation of this policy should be minimised to make it more beneficial for the energy sector.
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