CSS Current Affairs | Role of CPEC in Alleviating the Energy Issues of Pakistan
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Kaynat Fatima 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-Pakistan’s energy profile and CPEC role
3- CPEC’s role in alleviating the energy issues in Pakistan
- ✓Boosting Pakistan’s energy supply
- Case in point: 17,000 megawatts of power through CPEC
- ✓Investments in renewable energy projects
- Case in point: Quaid-e-Azam Solar, Jhimpir Wind Power Plant, Suki Kinari Hydropower Project
- ✓Upgrading transmission and distribution networks
- Case in point: 660kV HVDC transmission line
- ✓Leading to industrial development due to stable supply
- Case in point: Chairman NEPRA claims that CPEC energy projects have advanced CPEC energy projects that have strengthened Pakistan’s electricity sector and contributed to its economic prosperity.
- ✓Resolving provincial discrimination
- Case in point: Energy projects in all provinces
4-Critical analysis
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) pilot project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is a beacon of hope for Pakistan’s future development and prosperity. There are many projects under this project, such as infrastructure development, energy projects, special economic zones, and Gwadar port establishment. However, CPEC plays an essential and positive role in alleviating the rampant energy issues in Pakistan. According to the Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, if BRI is benefiting every country, the construction of CPEC is also most beneficial for Pakistan and other countries. Energy is the wheel that drives all aspects of our daily lives, such as manufacture, consumption, transportation, communication, and routine financial transactions. Further, CPEC is alleviating the rampant energy issues in Pakistan by boosting Pakistan’s energy supply, investing in renewable energy projects, upgrading transmission and distribution networks, reducing energy costs, and leading to industrial development due to stable supply. Thus, this question concerns the crucial and positive role CPEC has played in alleviating the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and leading toward development and growth.
Pakistan’s energy profile and CPEC role
Before going down, it is essential to shed light on the energy profile of Pakistan and the role of CPEC in alleviating energy issues. Pakistan has been facing an energy crisis for approximately two decades. Pakistan’s energy installed capacity is 41000 MW, of which 21000 MW is the installed capacity of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the rest of 20000 MW by the Government of Pakistan. The highest energy demand in Pakistan was in August 2022, which was 28000 MW. Still, the supply was 20500 MW, and a shortfall of 7500 MW was caused by Pakistan’s energy supply capacity of 22000-25000 MW, which became the cause of the shortfall. Further, 46.2% of Pakistan’s energy mix depends on thermal power, which has become the cause of costly energy production. Many causes contribute to the energy crisis, such as unpaid bills, lack of political will, corruption, population explosion, etc. In these kinds of energy crises, a project like CPEC is a ray of hope for Pakistan to alleviate the energy crisis. It is equally essential for China and Pakistan. In Pakistan, CPEC aims for Energy projects and their transformation and distribution, special economic zones, infrastructure development, and construction of Gwadar port. CPEC will grow the power to around 17000 megawatts. The total finance for CPEC is 62$, and roughly $35 billion is expected to go to energy projects; 60% will be spent on the energy sector. Thus, Pakistan is facing an energy crisis, and the CPEC is a ray of hope to alleviate the energy crisis.
CPEC’s role in alleviating the energy issues in Pakistan
- Boosting Pakistan’s energy supply
Moving down the ladder, CPEC can alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and boost Pakistan’s energy supply through different projects such as the 1320MW projects of Sahiwal Coal Electricity Plant, Coal-fired Electricity Plant at Karachi, China Hub Coal Electricity Project at Hub Balochistan, and 660MW Engro Thar Coal Electricity Project, and many others. Further, CPEC will grow its power to around 17000 megawatts, which is a positive role for CPEC because Pakistan is facing an energy crisis. According to Wang Shida, of the 22, half are energy projects that are priority projects adopted for the first phase of the construction of CPEC, and Pakistan’s power generation capacity has been dramatically improved. Energy projects created as part of the CPEC have helped remove bottlenecks restricting Pakistan’s energy and economic growth. It also led to economic development and boosted Pakistan’s energy supply. Thus, energy construction projects have been essential to CPEC in boosting Pakistan’s energy supply. It has a positive role because Pakistan is facing an energy crisis, and it will help to overcome its ongoing challenges.
- Investments in renewable energy projects
Moreover, CPEC can alleviate Pakistan’s rampant energy issues, which will positively impact Pakistan. CPEC has invested in renewable energy projects in Pakistan, such as hydro, wind, and solar, which plays a positive role because Pakistan is at top risk due to climate and global warming. Renewable energy projects like the solar electricity project like Quaid-e-Azam Solar Panel Park, wind electricity projects like UEP Wind Farm in Jhimpir, and hydropower projects like Karot Hydropower Project in AJK/Punjab and 884MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project in KP, and many others. These renewable power projects will add to the generation and supply of electricity in the Pakistan grid, lower generation costs, and lead toward clean energy projects and environment-friendly and economic development. Hence, it is proved that CPEC has contributed to renewable energy projects in Pakistan; it plays a positive role for Pakistan because Pakistan is at the top of the risk countries due to climate and global warming; this clean energy will benefit Pakistan environmentally and economically.
- Upgrading transmission and distribution networks
CPEC can likely alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and will positively impact Pakistan because it will upgrade transmission and distribution networks. The total line losses of Pakistan in 2018-19 were 18.3 per cent. CPEC will work on projects like 660kV HVDC transmission lines to overcome the line losses. According to Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Minister’s Spokesperson, the project will offer local people access to steady and excellent power, and it’s of extraordinary importance to breaking the bottleneck of South-North power transmission in Pakistan. This has not only upgraded transmission and distribution networks, helped Pakistan’s quicker financial and social development, but also played a positive part in advancing regional connectivity. So, it is proved that CPEC has contributed to upgrading transmission and distribution network projects in Pakistan. It plays a positive role for Pakistan because most of Pakistan’s energy is wasted in line losses. Thus, upgrading transmission and distribution networks will benefit Pakistan and help with economic development.
- Leading to industrial development due to stable supply
Additionally, CPEC can alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan, which will positively impact Pakistan because it will lead to industrial development due to a stable electricity supply. In Pakistan, load shedding and high-cost electricity have affected the industrial sector, so many industrialists shut down their industries and moved to other countries. In 2020, industries were hit by 8 hours of load shedding, which became the cause of a 30% loss in production. According to Tauseef H. Farooqi, Chairman of NEPRA, CPEC energy programs have contributed to financial growth and furthered the development of Pakistan’s electric power sector by creating a power supply with high efficiency at a cheaper cost. If Pakistan’s energy sector grows and affordable energy is provided, then the industrial sector will increase automatically and can contribute to Pakistan’s development. Thus, CPEC can alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and assume a significant and positive role in the financial advancement of Pakistan through industrial development.
- Resolving provincial discrimination
Last but not least, CPEC can alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and positively impact Pakistan’s social, economic, and political development. CPEC has played a significant rolein resolving provincial discrimination. In CPEC, construction of energy projects in all provinces, such as the Coal-fired power station in Karachi’s Port Qasim, which is located in Sindh, At Hub Balochistan, the China Hub Coal Electricity Plant, the Sahiwal Coal-fired power station, which is located in Punjab, and 500KV transmission line 225km Chitral to Chakdara in KPK. Thus, CPEC can alleviate the rampant energy issues in Pakistan and play an essential and positive role in its social development through equal opportunities for the development of all provinces.
Critical analysis
The CPEC is a high-profile project that will contribute to Pakistan’s social, economic, and political development. Pakistan’s energy sector has been facing many challenges. CPEC is a vast advantage project for Pakistan. Moreover, it is a long-term project that can lead Pakistan towards peace, prosperity, and the glory of height through different projects under CPEC like Energy projects and its transformation and distribution, special economic zones, infrastructure development, and construction of Gwadar port. Further, CPEC can alleviate the energy crisis, improve GDP growth, and create opportunities for new jobs, infrastructure development, and trade expansion over the region. Pakistan and China are ‘All-Weather Friends’. They provoke harmony, improvement, and stability in the region because of mutual respect, advantage, participation, and advancement standards. China and Pakistan are financial partners because of profound joint trust and understanding that has achieved many benefits for the two countries and the whole region. Subsequently, the CPEC, a leader venture of the BRI, is a task that contributes emphatically to Pakistan’s national growth and development.
Conclusion
The CPEC is a vast advantage project for Pakistan’s growth and development in the energy sector. Because it would strengthen Pakistan’s economy. CPEC has a crucial and positive role in alleviating the rampant energy issues in Pakistan by boosting Pakistan’s energy supply, investing in renewable energy projects, upgrading transmission and distribution networks, reducing energy costs, and leading to industrial development due to stable supply. Further, under the umbrella of the CPEC, Pakistan will grow in its industrial and trade sectors through the successful completion of CPEC, which can enhance the trust of other countries. Consequently, CPEC can boost Pakistan’s economy and social growth, alleviate the energy crisis, advance regional connectivity, coordinate between China and Pakistan, and increase trade and trust.
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