CH POWER RESOURCES

A non-renewable resource is a natural resource Renewable energy comes from natural

which cannot be produced, grown, generated, or resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides,
used on a scale which can sustain its consumption and geothermal heat, which are renewable
rate. These resources often exist in a fixed (naturally replenished)
amount, or are consumed much faster than nature
can create them. Fossil fuels (such as coal,
petroleum and natural gas) and nuclear power
(uranium) are examples
1- COAL
Distribution of coal fields

 Baluchistan: Quetta coal field [Sor Range, Mach, Dargai]

 Sindh : Lower Sindh coal field [ Lakhra, Sonda, Jhimpir, Thar 94 %]
 Punjab: Salt range coal field [ Dandot Pidh].
 KPK: Makerwal coal field [ Makerwal, Gullakhel]
Formation of coal: It’s formed by the decomposition of natural vegetation.
Extraction of coal: Coal is obtained by open cast, adit and shaft mining methods.
1) Adit mining: Coal seam exposed on a hill side after the coal is dugout, the miners create a passage
[horizontal or vertical]. Horizontal tunnel are dug into the side of a valley or a hill to reach the mineral
deposits.
2) Shaft mining: Vertical shafts are dug down to the minerals. Tunnels are dug horizontally to the layers
of the minerals.
Transportation of coal
 After extraction, loaded on to trolleys and donkey carts.
 Trolleys lead from the mine to the outside surface.
 Qualities of coal are separated outside and sold to the middle man.
 Further loaded into the trucks and supplies to the end users.
 Rail transport is also used when coal is supplied to thermal power station.
Types of coal
 ANTHRACITE: Best quality coal, hard and contain more carbon.
 BITUMINOUS: a- it’s considered steam coal, little better with more carbon.
b- Another is coking coal, burnt to produce coke, a hard grey porous material.
 LIGNITE: Lower quality coal with a high moisture and ash content, low heating
value but better than peat.
 PEAT: Lowest quality with less carbon and more impurities [initial stages of coal
formation].
Main users of coal

 Brick kiln industries: Sub bituminous coal used for briquetting.

 Pakistan steel mill: Coking coal used in Blast furnace after converting into metallurgical coal
by mixing high grade imported coal.
 Cement industries.
 Thermal power stations.

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Why coal has to import?
 NotAdvantages
good enough of Pipelines
for iron smelting. Disadvantages of Pipelines
 Needfor It cantobemix
coal transported in large
with poorer grade.quantity.  Capital intensive method to extend
 Less time
 Difficult to mine. consuming. pipelines.
 Safe
 Not enough mode
mind in of transport
Pakistan dueand no fear
to lack of
of technology and Leakage
finance. cannot be identified.
accidents.
 Reserves of coal are present with scattered deposits.  Difficult to lay down in rugged areas.
Q Why does coal only supply 4% of the energy supply in Pakistan? [3]
 low quality/lignite
 reserves not developed/not mined
 bulky/heavy to transport
 used for other things e.g. coke, bricks, cement
 coal seams difficult to mine because – thin, contorted, faulted
Q Why is coal produced in Pakistan described as low quality?
 Lignite
 Low burning temperature / produces less energy
 Low carbon content / more impurities / more smoke
 High ash content
 High sulphur content
Q Name an area where coal is mined in Pakistan, and state one type of coal found there. [2]
 Quetta – coking coal / Sharig coal / sub-bituminous
 Lower Sindh / Thar (desert) – lignite
 Salt Range / Dandot Pidh – sub-bituminous / lignite
 Makerwal – sub-bituminous [If no or incorrect named area, 0 marks]

2- NATURAL GAS
Extraction: By exploration and drilling.
Gas fields: Sui, Pirkho(Balochistan), Mari(Sindh) Meyal, Kandhkot, Khairpur, Dhurnal, Zin,
Uch.
Distribution of Gas pipelines.
 Main gas pipeline comes from Sui to Karachi.
 From Khairpur also goes to Karachi.
 From Faisalabad and Multan goes to Lahore and Sialkot.
 From Faisalabad goes to Peshawar via Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Quetta is connected by
a pipeline from Khairpur.
Uses of natural gas
 Used in Power plants (largest user) to generate electricity.
 Used in Fertilizer (as a fuel) and textile industry.
 Used for cooking purpose (household use).
 Used in vehicles for transport like CNG.
Transportation of natural gas.
 Pipelines
 Tankers and cylinders [In mountainous areas like Murree, Gilgit it can be moved from
place to place in spherical cylinders].
Advantages of cylinders Disadvantages of cylinders
 LPG can be transported to  Limited quantity can be transported.

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 mountainous areas as well.  Danger of accidents.
 For shorter distance, it is suitable.  High transportation charges due to bulky
in nature.
Q. Why there is no gas pipeline above Peshawar and Azad Kashmir?
 They are mountainous areas.
 Due to low temperature it converts into LPG.
 Due to height the pressure also reduces.
Q Why natural gas is an important fuel?
 Many reserves in Pakistan.
 Easily and cheaply available.
 Developed system of gas pipeline.
 Environment friendly.
 Unlimited supplies to various areas.
Q Explain why natural gas is an easy fuel to extract from Nautheh in the Potwar Plateau?
 Small size of land, little impact on the environment.
 Simple machinery/small machinery, pipes go into ground.
 Works automatically/no/little manpower needed.
 Controlled by valves/valves control pressure, near road for easy access.
Q Why natural gas is known as a cheap fuel?
 Produced in Pakistan/in Balochistan/at Sui/not imported, large reserves.
 Lightweight, available in pipelines.
 Portable in cylinders, cleaner than burning wood/coal, easy to extract.
Q To what extent can Pakistan rely on fossil fuels to increase fuel and power supplies? [6]
Possibilities – Res 2
Large reserves of gas
Sui / Pirkoh / Mari / Potwar Plateau area
Large / new reserves of coal
Of a type suitable for use in power stations / power generation
Coal a cheap fuel
Potential of coal gas
Port at Karachi for imports
Problems – Res 2
Small oil reserves / oil has to be imported
Will run out / not renewable
Coal is heavy / bulky to transport
Gas is difficult to transport / explosive
Fossil fuels expensive to import
Because becoming inaccessible / higher cost of production / exploration / extraction / rising
Q. Why the demand of natural gas is increasing? [3]
 The demand for natural gas is increasing due to use of CNG to run cars, making fertilizers
(more demand), to generate power as it is cheaper than oil and coal, used for cooking in
homes (as it burns cleanly and is easy to transport).
3- MINERAL OIL

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 Extraction of oil
 Surveying is done.
 Geologist collected data.
 Final location of oil exploration is
decided.
 Derrick or oil rig is setup.
 Drilling is carried out.
 Pipes are lowered and pumps are
used.
 It is sent to refinery for purification
by fractional distillation.
Main Products: Petrol, jet oil, diesel and
kerosene.
By-products of oil: Paraffin, pesticides,
plastic, wax, coal tar.

Uses of oil:
 Transport.
 Power plants.
 Industries and domestic.
 Agriculture.
Oil fields: Upper Punjab (Potwar Plateau)
Lower Sindh (Badin)
OIL REFINERIES
1. Attock Oil Refinery [Potwar plateau, Morga]
2 .Pak Arab Refinery Co. (PARCO) [Mehmood kot, Multan].
3. Pakistan Oil Refinery and National Oil Refinery [Karachi]
4. Hub Oil Refinery [Balochistan]
Q Explain the importance of the White Pipeline, and other pipelines to the development of
Pakistan. [4]
• White Pipeline will carry refined oil / free existing pipeline for crude oil
• Reduce rail / road transport
• Cheaper method of transport (than tanker / rail transport)
• Faster method of transport (than tanker)
• To meet (increasing) demand for oil
• Will increase industrialisation / employment / economic prosperity / living standards / attracts
investment (in inland areas)

Q Where to establish oil refineries?

• It should be near the oil field because the transportation of oil is expensive, time consuming and
dangerous.
• It should be at or near the port because the import of oil by ship at Kemari and Port Qasim.
Market or demand factor.

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TRANSPORTATION OF OIL
Transport at sea
From UAE it’s transported in special ships called oil tankers, tankers are anchored/ berthed at oil piers,
through the pier the ship is connected to the oil handling system.
Transport on land
By pipelines.
By road tankers.
By rail tankers.

DISTRIBUTION OF
OIL PIPELINE
NETWORK

Distribution Of Oil
Pipeline Network

Sindh
 From the Port of
Karachi, the
KMKpipeline
(Karachi to
Mehmood Kot)
originates. It
carries imported
oil and refined oil
from refineries
like Indus
Refinery and
Pakistan Refinery
(both are in
Karachi)
 From Port
Qasim, the White
oil pipeline
begins; carrying refined imported oil north. The pipeline starts from the west bank of Indus
river.These two pipelines run on both banks of River Indus respectively and then enter into
Southern Punjab.
Punjab
These two pipelines meet at Mehmood Kot near Multan at Mid-Country Oi Refinery (serves demand of
oil in Southern Punjab, Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa etc). From the refinery one pipelines branches east and
other branches west into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The one that goes east it connects with
Faisalabad. From there it heads in three directions that is North towards Kharian, South towards Sahiwal
and East towards Machike.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Pipeline enters from central Punjab and goes to Peshawar.
Balochistan A pipeline enters from Karachi into Hub, where the Hub Refinery refines oil to be used by
industry in Hub Tehsil.
Pipelines

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 Advantages: Easy, safe, fast, Disadvantages: Difficult to lay in rugged areas,
no threat of theft and construction and maintenance cost is high,
large amount can be transported. leakage cannot be detected.

Tankers
Advantages: [Portable and no threat of theft] Disadvantages: [expensive, bulky and dangerous,
goods are difficult to transport, limited amount
can be transported].

Q Why do we import oil?

 Discoveries of less oil reserves.
 Many vehicles in Pakistan.
 Many industries.
 More use of generators.
 More use of electrical appliances.
Effects of import of oil.
 Economic burden.
 Negative balance of payment.
 High inflation rate.
 More foreign debt.
 Less money for other projects.
 Loss of valuable foreign exchange.
POWER GENERATION
1- NUCLEAR ENERGY.
In atomic fusion energy is released when atoms are fused together. Nuclear Power Stations produce
energy in much the same way as those using fossil fuels. Nuclear fission releases a large amount of
energy within the reactor core. Water passing through the hot core heats a water supply and turns it to a
steam which is sent to the turbine outside.
Main Nuclear Power Stations:
 KANUPP(Karachi Nuclear Power Plant), located on the west of Karachi on Arabian Sea
coast.,
 Chashma 1 NPP and Chashma 2 NPP, located in Western Punjab
Atomic energy commission of Pakistan controls the NPPs
ADVANTAGES- it has the advantage of being DISADVANTAGES – Produces dangerous rays,
clean source of power, installed anywhere, requires many precautions, nuclear rays can
renewable, require less space. remain radioactive for many years, burden of
foreign loans to build nuclear stations.

2- THERMAL ELECTRICITY
Main centres of Thermal stations in Pakistan:
 Sindh(Karachi, Kotri, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Guddu)
 Punjab (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Kot Addu).
 Balochistan ( Quetta, Pasni and Hub).
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Can be installed anywhere Fossil fuels depletion.
Low cost of installation. Causes pollution when burnt.
Less space is required for installation. Dangerous way of energy generation.

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 Easy to provide power to local areas with less Causes water pollution.
wastage.
Q In a recent study it was stated that over 46% of thermal power in Pakistan is generated in the
area around Karachi.
(i) Why is so much thermal power generated in this area?
Gas/Oilfields in Lower Sindh
Named oilfield (max. 1)
Coal mines in Lower Sindh
Named mining centre/Lakhra/Jhimpir/Sonda
Gas pipeline from Sui
Imports of oil at Karachi
Demand from industry
Demand from large population
Other demands e.g. railway (max. 2)
Oil refineries at Karachi
(ii) What problems are created when there are many thermal power stations in one area?
Air pollution and details (max. 2)
Shortage of oil/gas/coal supply
Depletion of oil/coal reserves in the area
Lack of investment in renewable energy generation
Hot water flows out into rivers

3- HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER(HEP)
Energy production through HEP: A dam stores water, water falls on the turbine of generator
which converts the energy into electrical pumps. It goes to national grid station then through
cables it goes to local grid station which transmits the energy through cables and pylons to other
areas.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Water is a renewable source,  Required rough topography so that a
continuous unless something good head is available for running the
catastrophic takes place like change in turbine such as mountainous areas in
climate, or diversion of the river the North.
course on which the HEP is located.  Initial construction cost are high.
 Environmentally friendly so referred  Large area is required for reservoir.
as white coal
 Very low running cost because the
turbine wheel is moved by running
water.
 Safest way.
Q Name an HEP (hydel) power station and state the name of the river on which it is built.
[2]
Tarbela on the River Indus, Mangla on the River Jehlum, Warsak on the River Kabul.

Q Why is HEP (hydel) an important source of electricity in northern Pakistan? [3]

Cheap to generate
Renewable
Available / no fossil fuels / no thermal power stations

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 Rivers / water from glaciers
High rainfall
Lack of evaporation / lower temperatures
Deep / steep sided valleys for dams
No air pollution / CO2
Q Why can the supply of power from these stations be unreliable? [3]
Shortage / not enough for every user/ load shedding
Silting in reservoir (reduces capacity)
Silt in turbines (causes damage)
Seasonal shortages e.g. winter / frozen / monsoon etc.
Lack of rainfall / changing climate
Theft
Damage to power lines
Old / worn machinery
Q Give three reasons why it is difficult to develop more HEP (hydel) power stations in
Pakistan. [3]
(Climate change so) less rainfall
(Climate change so) higher temperatures and more evaporation/glaciers smaller
Liable to siltation in reservoirs
High cost
No investment/government support/changing government policies
Opposition from tribal areas (in mountains)/security issues
Lack of skilled labour/expertise
Opposition to loss of land (for reservoir)
Dispute over share of water (between provinces)
4- SOLAR POWER.
How energy is created: Solar furnaces use giant mirrors to focus the sun rays on a boiler. Steam
from the boiler is used to make electricity. Solar panels collect heat energy from the sun.
Solar panels collect solar energy in solar cells. It can be used for rural electrification, water
heating and pumping water from wells and for cooking.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANATAGES
Safe, Pollution free, Efficient. Construction of power station is expensive.
Limitless supply. Require further advances in technology.

5- WIND POWER
Windmills and wind pumps converts the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. A
wind turbine has a generator which converts this mechanical power into electricity.
FEASIBILITY: The coast of Pakistan is about 1000 km long. High wind is available in nearly
all year round in these areas [Baluchistan coast and Karachi coast].
Gharo windpower plant is planned to be built at Gharo, sindh.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
It is free of direct greenhouse emissions. Initially expensive to get wind turbine.
Does not emit other pollution like oxides of Large areas needs cannot be fulfilled.
sulphur and nitrogen.
Does not consume water.

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 More power plants are being set up in Gharo, Keti Bandar, and Port Qasim. The Alternative
Energy Development Board(AEDB) has supported the following projects

 2 projects with joint capacity of 106.4 MW are operational. (Financed by Asian

Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation).
 3000 Solar Home Systems installed in 49 districts of Tharparkar.
 Solar water heaters installed in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, KPK and northern Punjab.
 Solar water pumping units being installed for agriculture and potable water.
6- GEOTHERMAL POWER.
It’s the energy derived from the heat of the Earth core. It’s produced from earth heat absorbed in
underground water the holes are drilled into the land to pump out hot water. This hot water or
steam is used to drive turbines to produce electricity.

ADVANTAGES: Renewable. DISADVANTAGES: High cost of

Constant supply. construction, limitation to volcanic areas,
No pollution. Threat to power stations from eruption and
earth quakes
POTENTIAL IN PAKISTAN: Himalayan region and Chagai area are the sources of geothermal
energy.
Large number of hot springs in different parts of the country.
A plate margin passes through Pakistan and Pakistan lies in earthquake zone.
FACTORS REQUIRED FOR POWER STATION:
Identification of sites, estimation of the sites, and determination of heat contents of fluid that will
be discharge by wells in geo-thermal fields.
7- WAVE POWER: Waves have high level of energy. Wave motion can be used to compress air to
drive a turbine. Makran coastal area have strong wave energy.
8- BIOMASS: It refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuels.
Dead leaves, branches, stumps etc. are burnt directly to produce heat. In some countries garbage
burning plants have been set up, which burn garbage and use the heat produced to turn water into
steam. This steam then turns turbines, which produce electricity.
Use
One good use of biomass is in production of biogas. In a biogas plant, animal dung is fed into
closed container deprived of oxygen. Bacteria and other micro-organisms then digest it and
produce methane as a result this methane is used either for cooking or for producing electricity.
9- BIOGAS: Fermentation of cow dung gives of methane gas which is used for cooking, heating
and other purposes. [ increase atmospheric pollution because methane is a green house gas].
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE SOURCES

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 They are renewable meaning that they  Solar energy is not much efficient, about
will never run out. 20%, when converting light energy from
 Renewable are mostly clean and have the sun into electricity.
little lasting impact on environment.  Wind turbines produce an audible sound
 They require investment once only and which locals hate and it also spoils the scenery.
maintenance thereafter, Also not many places have many windy days.
 No need to buy fuel like fossil fuels etc.  Geo-thermal isn't available at all places in
So they are cheaper in the long run. few favorable places exist.
 They can be used in remote areas (wind  Less water is available downstream due to

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 power in mountainous areas), where other dams, thus affecting fisheries as mangroves
power resources can't be used due to difficulty of don't get enough fresh water.
transporting furnace oil etc. Also, these areas may  Agriculture may also be affected due to
be far away from the national grid (It is lack of water for plant growth.
uneconomical to extend the grid to small  Biomass produces limited amount of
population centres as the wires and pylons are energy and is unfeasible to sustain
expensive). current power demands.
 Wind and solar power aren't available at
all times like during windless days or
cloudy days or nights.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVNTAGES OF NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 They require low initial investment as  These energy sources will eventually run
compared to renewable sources. out and can't be depended upon in the
 Perfect for urgently meeting demands as long run.
they require less time to build.  They pollute the environment leading to
 Electricity can be produced on large scale. acid rain or global warming.
 Due to conflicts in fossil fuel rich Middle
East, the price of these fossils fuels looks
set to rise, so Pakistan won't be able to
import much oil to produce electricity in
the future.
 These projects however do require a lot of
expensive maintenance and fuel, also,
Independent power producers charge a
higher rate for electricity generation than
state owned thermal stations.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN PAKISTAN

There are 3 major sources of electricity in Pakistan.
1. Thermal (electricity is produced from petroleum, gas, and coal). Major contributor to energy in
Pakistan.
2. Hydel power/hydroelectricity (electricity is obtained from running water).
3. Nuclear power from atomic energy.
TRANSMISION OF ELECTRICITY/NATIONAL GRID SYSTEM
What is National Grid System?
Electricity in Pakistan is transmitted through a national grid system that connects with all provinces.
Purpose of National Grid System: It is formed to supply electricity to different areas according to their
requirements and not on the basis of their own power generation.
How National Grid System works?
 Connects HEP production in northern and thermal power generation in southern Pakistan,
managed by WAPDA( Water and Power Development Authority),KESC( Karachi Electricity
Supply Corporation) and now also, by PEPCO.
 From power plants to grid stations, transmit power to load centres then to domestic, commercial
and industrial consumers.
 Transmission lines are connected and power supply according to the needs of different areas.
Advantages Disadvantages

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  Every part of the country receives  Loss of electricity during distribution due
electricity according to its need. to long distances.
 If any area generates less electricity, the  Maintenance of transmission lines are
shortage will be met from other parts of expensive.
the country.  Heavy cost of laying and maintaining of
 In case of power failure in a certain area, transmission lines to distant villages.
the loss is compensated instantly from
other areas.
PROBLEMS OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
Q Why do we have shortage of electricity? / Why we have inadequate power generation and
transmission?
 Financial constraints. Many power stations not working fully due to lack of finance.
 During winter, the HEP decreases with a reduced flow of water in the rivers.
 Long transmission lines cause losses of electricity.
 Siltation in the reservoirs of dams reduced the storage capacity.
 Power theft in big cities.
 High price of fossil fuel increases the input cost of generation.
 Demand for electricity increases due to urbanization, industrialization and rural electrification.
 Corruption, inefficiency and poor maintenance service of WAPDA.

LOAD SHEDDING
Definition: Planned power cut-off.
Effects of load shedding
Less working hours of factories.
Less production.
Unemployment.
Loss of foreign contracts.
High production cost.
Q How the provision of electricity raised the standard of living?
Tube wells can be installed in villages.
Small industries can be setup in village areas.
People can use electrical appliances.
People have access to IT.
More jobs can be created.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: is the process of bringing electrical power to rural and remote areas.
Advantages of Rural electrification:
 Tubewells can be installed for irrigation. This will help to control waterlogging and agricultural
production will increase.
 Small scale and cottage industries can be developed to meet the demand of industrial goods and
also it gives employment.
 The standard of living can increase and people can use electrical appliances.
 People can receive electronic media and access information technology.
Major programmes for Rural Development
 Village Aid, Basic Democracy and Rural Works Programme.
 AKRSP(Agha Khan Rural Support Programme).

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Factors that hinders to Rural/Village Electrification
 Many of the KPK and Balochistan villages are far from the transmission lines.
 Lack of funds.
 High cost of maintaining and laying of transmission lines is an extra burden on the government.
 Poor economic feasibility to electrify small villages of every low population density.
Q To what extent is it possible to increase the electricity supply to rural areas? [6]
Possibilities
Extend national grid
Increase (national) power generation/nuclear power
More/good potential for renewable schemes, wind, solar, HEP (max 2)
More small-scale power generation schemes E.g. biogas using animal/plant waste/molasses (dev)
Problems
High cost of technology/fuel/maintenance
Theft Damage/energy loss… Due to long transmission lines/siltation in reservoirs for HEP
Distance from grid stations/remoteness of some rural areas
Tribal opposition
Insufficient power generation… …So urban needs met first
Lack of government support/loans/investment/policies
Difficult construction in rugged/mountainous terrain
Lack of skilled personnel, e.g. engineers
IMPORTANCE OF POWER RESOURCES AND PAKISTAN’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 Power shortage reduces industrial production and increases cost of production results in a lower
Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
 Modernization of agriculture is also dependent on power resources e.g. tube wells can run by
electricity and oil can be used as fuel for functioning.
 All big machineries like derrick, drilling machine, bull dozers and trucks are needed fuel/power
to explore minerals. More chances of employment if mining industries flourish.
 Save foreign exchange if power resources are produced locally, so dependence on imported
power resources is reduced.
 In recent years economic development has become dependent on communication devices which
cannot operate without an efficient power supply.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF POWER RESOURCES

Q What can be done to sustain power resources?
 Preservation and conservation of the non-renewable resources of the Earth.
 The development of renewable resources of energy by using advanced technology.
 Wastage of power resources must be checked strictly.
 Public awareness programme through media and government institutions.
 The protection of the environment by enforcing the strict laws through environment
protection agencies.
 Faulty and damaged transmission lines should be replaced on an emergency basis to avoid
losses in electricity.

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