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CPEC gives strong support to overcome power crisis in Pakistan

2020-10-19 Editor:Super administratorSource:Original

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ISLAMABAD - The political economy influences decision-making, undermining economic performance and results in politicizing of the economic priorities.

Although all sectors of the economy are struggling in this regard, the energy sector has had a major impact.

 

The issue of politicizing in the energy sector began after a World Bank report in the 1960s, which emphasized the need to build dams including the Kalabagh dam well before the end of the 1990s. It is considered necessary to meet the country's water and energy needs.

 

Sadly, Pakistan did not pay much attention, except for building a few small dams. The lack of sensitivity led to a reduction in the burden in the 1980s and 1990s, forcing Pakistan to seek immediate solutions.

 

The political economy resumed and created a negative turnaround, and the state began to invest in mineral resources. The Energy Policy of 1994 provided the private sector with the opportunity to reap the greatest benefits from favorable investment conditions.

 

As a result, Pakistan plunged into problems such as the importation of mineral oil and a lack of renewable energy, especially hydroelectric power. The Alternative Energy Policy 2006 tried to close the gap but was unsuccessful.

 

Politics surrounding the energy sector also forced Pakistan into a period of reduction in the burden of the late 2000s. Cost reduction costs increase, both at the social and economic levels, at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st Century.

 

In 2013, the electricity supply stood at 14,835 megawatts compared to the demand for 20,695MW. Annual expenses were estimated at $ 4-5 billion earlier in the economy (Vision 2025).

 

Social costs were hidden as there was no way in Pakistan to measure the psychological impact and its importance on mental health.

 

Pakistan did not have the resources to deal with this challenge and no country was ready to invest in the country due to terrorism. Pakistan has been desperately seeking funding to fight power outages.

China come to rescue

In this context, China trusted Pakistan and began investing in the energy sector. It has taken risks in every case to help Pakistan during those testing times.

 

Meanwhile, many Chinese workers have been targeted and some of them killed. In the private sector, it was dangerous to set up resources in a terrorism hit-country, but Beijing and its companies continued to support Pakistan and introduced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

 

CPEC investment has not only helped to manage the reduction of  load-shedding but also contributed to job creation. It has created 23,000 jobs in various categories, especially in the most backward areas of Pakistan such as Thar.

 

Thar, once a hotbed of malnutrition and high mortality rates, is becoming a powerhouse. Another success story in Thar is the inclusion of women in livelihood opportunities

 

This was not in the interest of Pakistani rivals and other international players. They have launched a smear campaign against CPEC, especially against energy projects.

 

The popular propaganda was against the negative impact of coal-fired power plants, borrowing and corruption. First, they target coal-fired power stations, claiming that Pakistan is disrupting the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by its coal-fired power plant, making up only 13% of the energy mix.

 

Sadly, they are adamant that Pakistan should immediately stop investing in coal without realizing the need and the poor level of development of the country.

 

It seems that foreign countries and companies are not interested in understanding domestic power. Therefore, they are at the forefront of the CPEC slander campaign. They supply the fuel needed to burn propaganda and propagation.

 

Critics of CPEC projects easily sniff out two facts. First, they ignore or attempt to undermine renewal investments under the CPEC umbrella.

 

CPEC is building a number of projects for solar, solar and hydropower projects and most of them are already in operation. 1,590 megawatts of hydropower projects will be implemented in the next two years.

 

The Kohala and Azad Pattan Dams are some of the project agreements signed a few days ago.

Renewable sources 

It is encouraging to know that China and Pakistan are working to find new investment opportunities in hydroelectric power and other renewable energy projects.

 

Apart from power, Pakistan also invests heavily in tree planting. The introduction of electric vehicle policy and support in this sector is another important step in promoting the green development agenda.

 

At the same time, Pakistan will retire 11,511MW of petrol power stations by 2047. It is more than an investment in coal-fired power, leaving alone renewable investments, in fields, electric vehicles and other programs. All of these actions will help correct GHG emissions.

 

Second, they forget to mention the use of coal-based electricity in developed countries and in regions such as the US, the EU and many others. For example, the US - a highly developed country - produces 23.5% of coal from coal.

 

The BBC reported in January 2020 that Germany had produced 35.4% of its electricity from coal. Although it plans to extract coal-fired power but gradually and wisely until 2038 by providing a powerful package of 40 billion euros.

 

In the EU, coal has a 14% share in electricity generation. EU member states are now trying to eradicate coal but it will take a long time. They can afford it as they have gained so much and they have the resources to do so. Although they can do it as fast as they have the resources, they are still stuck in getting out of the system. However, they pressured Pakistan to do so immediately, which is strange.


In summary, it is fair to say that the smear campaign will continue as it has the interest of CPEC opponents. Pakistan and China should not worry about it but should put in place the necessary tools to oppose it as a well-designed engagement strategy.


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