What are your views about electricity crisis in Pakistan?
Dr. Marco Liguori: Round about 87 countries including India are facing power crises. We are aware of growing electricity crises in Pakistan. The Government has recently introduced energy conservation plan but the people of Pakistan need to acknowledge that the country is faced with an acute energy crisis which requires a national-level effort to overcome it. Together we must draw a distinction between electrical necessities and luxuries. There is a simply insufficient level of energy to fuel both aspects.
There is real potential to avert a real disaster by simply promoting conservation and meet almost half of the energy deficit. To ensure success, public awareness is essential. With the help of effective electronic and print media campaigns the government can quickly educate the masses on the necessary steps.
Pakistan needs a long term, comprehensive energy policy. This should be especially focused on low cost energy production, which is only possible if cheap energy resources available in the country are utilized optimally.
Is manufacturing of solar cell viable?
In Pakistan if we want to curb out the menace of load shedding we must use Solar Energy. Solar Energy is being used successfully in many countries to generate power. It is true that these panels cost a lot if imported because in one solar panel 100 or more solar cells are used and each solar cell if imported costs more than hundreds so these must be prepared in Pakistan. Pakistan needs these cells in millions to meet the requirements of whole Country.
The basic raw material (quartz) for solar cell manufacturing is available in abundance in the northern areas of Pakistan. But, this raw material is useless as far as its purification and development to a stage where this raw material could be converted into solar cells is concerned. This equipment will have to be imported. So it is difficult to say that solar cell manufacturing is viable for Pakistan. But yes if government steps into it.
What are major obstacles in investment in Power sector?
There are several challenges in setting up a new business and taking over a company that is not one of the best in class, but these problems are there with every take over and with every new business setup. I have held talks with Alternative Energy Development Board many times. We have to pay extra taxes if we import raw material from China and Germany or any other country to setup solar panel in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan should remove such obstacles to bring more investment in Pakistan.
http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2011/jan11/supply/standing_tall.php
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