Ailing energy sector — III

Our “clever” decision-makers realized the immense potential of “money-making” in power projects in the worst possible power project at Hub where the cost of 1200MW, low-efficiency, highly polluting, project was allowed to increase from 720 million dollars to 1.8 billion dollars, all under the “watchful eyes” of international financing institutions. After this mayhem, environment of loot and plunder was let loose in the 90s and power projects became the “via-media” of looting country’s scarce resources. First hand, we “lost” a 175MW project at Gadani, which would have been the most efficient combined cycle power plant in the country at that time as the Sponsors from USA refused to “oil” the approval process. Soon after, the DHA Karachi Cogen-Desalination Plant (also designed by us for high efficiency) became the victim of greed all-round and the German suppliers ensured complete project failure (the only power plant in the country to have reached this ignominious distinction)! This power project would have also shown how economical seawater desalination would have ensured at least drinking water supply to a large coastal city. Can one imagine what will happen to inhabitants of Karachi if our Indus source Kinjhar lake supply is disrupted in its long path to Karachi? Seawater desalination, at affordable cost, is essential for Karachi and it is unfortunate that none of the thermal power projects coming up in this area have any provision for seawater desalination.

Karachi Ainul Abedin