Comprehensive plan for power conservation.

[Neo]

Comprehensive plan for power conservation.​

Clocks to be advanced by an hour, markets to close at 9pm from June 1​

ISLAMABAD, May 14: The federal cabinet has decided that all markets in the country will close by 9pm and clocks will be moved forward by an hour (GMT+6) from June 1 till the end of August to save energy during the peak summer season.

After the adjustment in the Pakistan Standard Time, sunrise in Islamabad will be at about 6am instead of 5am and sunset at about 8pm.

Similar moves to introduce ‘daylight saving time’ in the country have failed twice in the past.

In a special meeting on the energy crisis held here on Wednesday, the cabinet decided that international bids would be invited for generating 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity on a fast-track basis.

The industrial zones will observe scattered off days (on a rotation basis) and air-conditioners in all government offices will be switched off from 8am to 11am. Half of the streetlights will remain off during the three months.

The government will import 10 million energy-saving bulbs.

The country would face a shortage of 4,000MW during the summer, a far worse situation than it experienced last year, as a result of a 50 per cent (2,500MW) reduction in hydroelectric power generation because of less water in rivers and slower melting of snow, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf told journalists after the meeting.

He said that international bids for power generation would be offered at the current rates of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to attract investment. The offer will be closed as soon as the government achieves the target of 1,200MW.

The minister said the tendering and production process for power generation normally took at least three years but the government had decided to accomplish the task within a year and a half.

“If this energy generation and conservation plan is accomplished we will be able to get rid of loadshedding by the end of 2009,” he said.

He said a barge-based power plant would be imported to meet the need of Karachi and 1,200MW being used by the metropolis would be provided to other cities.

“We need to take tough decisions for power conservation,” Mr Ashraf said.

In reply to a question, the minister said the government would make efforts for the recovery of Rs207 billion various government departments and institutions owed to Wapda. He said an economically healthy Wapda will be able to function more efficiently.

Comprehensive plan for power conservation: Clocks to be advanced by an hour, markets to close at 9pm from June 1 -DAWN - Top Stories; May 15, 2008

 

[Neo]

Country switching to daylight saving hour from June 1 ​

ISLAMABAD (May 15 2008): Country is switching to daylight saving time next month to reduce the impact of acute power shortages in the country, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Wednesday. The government has decided that clocks would be moved forward an hour, to GMT+6, on June 1 to ensure maximum use of daylight, minister said.

"All this is being done to combat this menace of load-shedding," he told a news conference using a term that refers to managed power cuts.

OUR CORRESPONDENT FROM ISLAMABAD ADDS: The Federal Cabinet has approved bidding for generating 1200 MW thermal power on tariff fixed by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) besides, putting 500MW in the system by adopting conservation measures.

These decisions were taken by the special cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair on ongoing power crisis. Raja Pervez Ashraf flanked by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said that chief ministers of all the four provinces were also invited to the meeting that agreed on short as well as long term strategies to address the problem of load shedding. There is a shortage of 4000MW in the system with declining water reservoirs in the rivers to further worsen situation in the next three months, he said.

He said 1200MW electricity would be included in the system within 12 to 18 months through a bidding process to be started on May 20 through an advertisement. The process will be monitored by Secretary Water and Power, Chairman Nepra and representatives of media. "Basic objective of our policy is to encourage private sector in power generation to overcome this crisis," he said.

Giving details about 500MW to be put in the system through energy conservation, the minister said all shopping plazas would be closed by 9:00pm from July 1 and no electricity would be supplied to billboards. The power would also be managed from streetlights that would be lit half of the total in the country.

He said shopkeepers would be encouraged to remain closed on Friday instead of Sunday while one million energy saver bulbs will be provided in the first phase. The meeting, he said, also decided that no air conditioners would be used in government offices from 8:00am to 11:00am including Prime Minister House.

The meeting also constituted to resolve the financial problems of the Ministry of Water and Power particularly by resolving outstanding dues with the provinces and departments. The Minister warned of stern action against officials involved in line losses and reward to those who would contribute in reducing them, assuring there would be end to load shedding in one year with the implementation of this plan.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[BATMAN]

Energy conservation is a sane approach but we also need water conservation.
Politicians will never talk about building dams, which infect, serve dual purpose.

I wonder what the hell can they build in six months. We cannot afford any more oil based power plants.
We do heard that we have some coal reservoirs but in any case the option 1 should remain to build dams at every possible location.
It is even possible to put small turbines on rivers. like we have 'heads' at some canals, to regulate water.

We need to use the city garbage to produce biogas which can be used to run gas or steam turbines.
Sewage treatment plants should be installed and purified water should be pumped back to irrigation channels.

State should also look to revise the national construction standards (if they have any).
All buildings must have high efficiency heating and air-condition design.
Solar heating should be encouraged.
Only high efficiency, electrical machines should be allowed to import, produce or sold in market and there should be a complete ban on incandescent lamps, instead LED and flourescent lamps should be forced.

We as nation should look in to our habits not only in terms of using electricity rather also using water.