MEETING ELECTRICITY DEMAND THROUGH INDIGENOUS COAL BASED POWER GENERATION IN PAKISTAN

Transcription

1 MEETING ELECTRICITY DEMAND THROUGH INDIGENOUS COAL BASED POWER GENERATION IN PAKISTAN Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili a, Gordhan Das Valasai b,*, Dr. Hafeez Ur Rahman Memon c a Professor, Department Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro , Sindh, Pakistan b Postgraduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro-76062, Sindh, Pakistan c Professor, Institute of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro-76062, Sindh, Pakistan ABSTRACT Pakistan is blessed with world s fifth largest coal reserves more than 175 billion tonnes, in Tharparkar, Sindh. It has not been utilized so for, since its discovery. On the other hand, electricity demand in the country is increasing steeply. Only less than 0.5 % electricity is generated through coal. However, more than 65% is generated through oil and natural gas, remaining on less certain hydel sources. This paper reflects that the oil prices are increasing rapidly, whereas coal prices and coal based power generation technology has been improved economically, environmentally and in terms of efficiency. This paper suggests that, as Pakistan is currently importing, more than US $ 3 billion per annum oil, more than 15% is used for power generation, leaving a huge burden over national economy. However, using latest available technologies of power generation with coal will result into environment friendly cheap electricity and increasing rate of development growth, and sustainable development in the country. KEYWORDS: Coal, Power Generation, Environment, Pakistan *Corresponding author. Tel.: ; Fax: valasai97@yahoo.com 1

2 INTRODUCTION Electricity is one of the major economic growth and social development indexes in the modern world. The country, whose per capita electricity consumption is higher, is known as developed. In Pakistan, about 68% of population lives in rural areas, most of them have no access to electricity and per capita supply is about 500kWh. At the time of independence, Pakistan had only 67 MW of installed generation capacity. But due to rapid industrialization, increase in per capita income, improvement in living standards installed generation capacity also increased. Currently, installed generation capacity in the country is MW; still we are unable to meet the demand. The main sources of electricity generation in Pakistan are hydel, oil, gas, coal and nuclear energy. Most of the electricity is generated through hydel sources, natural gas and imported oil. Only 0.2% of total electricity is generated through coal. However the country is blessed with more than 185 billion tonnes of coal. Pakistan imports more than US $ 3 billion per annum oil and this will become almost double in 10 years from now. Increase in oil prices and heavy expenditure on import of oil is affecting adversely every sector of the national economy. This situation certainly suggests us to rely on our own available natural sources. Thar coal field, one of the largest coal fields of the world, comprises of more than 175 billion tonnes of fine quality lignite to bituminous coal. Most of electricity demand can be met by generating electricity using latest clean coal technologies, on Thar coal. These technologies have proved to be efficient and environment friendly and on the other hand will make use of indigenous coal. Thus it will also be useful, in the context of Kyoto Protocol and carbon credit. ELECTRICITY GENERATION SITUATION IN PAKISTAN At the time of independence Pakistan had only 67 MW installed generation capacity; where as in 2004 it reached MW, due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, increase in per capita income, improvement in living standards. Figure 1, shows the trend in installed generation capacity in Pakistan since [11] Megawatts Years Figure 1; Trend in installed generation capacity in Pakistan Pakistan has installed generation capacity of MW. Table 1, shows the installed generation capacity in Pakistan, as on October

3 Sr. No. Type Of Power Station Table 1: Installed Generation Capacity in Pakistan Installed Rated/De- Availability Capacity Rated (MW) Capacity as on October 05, 2004 (MW) (MW) WAPDA Hydel 2. WAPDA Thermal 3. IPPs Total Peak Sharing as on October 05, 2004 (MW) Most of the electricity generated from gas and oil (64%), in Pakistan. The supply in energy is fluctuated very much due to unavailability of water as more than 33% electricity is generated from hydel source. This is totally dependant on weather conditions, especially on the melting of snow. Hydel, 33.3% Gas, 48.5% Oil, 15.7% Coal, 0.2% Nuclear, 2.2% Figure 2; Electricity generation by source in Pakistan Pakistan generates most of its electricity demands, as described in figure 2, using oil, natural gas, and hydel. Around 48.5 % of power generation of country is met by utilizing indigenous gas, where as oil about 15.7 %, hydel 33.3 % and a small proportion goes to nuclear, 2.2%. [1] It is interesting to learn that Pakistan is currently generating electricity through the cheapest source of energy, coal, less than 0.2% despite of huge coal reserves availability in the country. It can be observed that, China, India and South Africa, whose GDP growth rate is higher than other developing countries, mainly due to availability of cheap electricity from coal. [2, 8] PAKISTAN AND ELECTRICITY DEMAND According to different studies conducted by Pakistan WAPDA, the demand of electricity will increase by 30 GW to 42 GW by year 2025, under different scenarios. The figure 3, gives the complete picture of the electricity demand in the country, under GDP growth rates of 5%, 6%, and 7%, in year [14, 15] 3

4 Electricity Demand (MW) Years 5 % Growth Rate 6 % Growth Rate 7 % Growth Rate Figure 3: Load forecast in The Country under different GDP Growth Rate On the other hand the prices of oil and gas in the international market are increasing, which are major fuels for power generation in Pakistan; also 85% of total oil demand of the country is met by import. Unfortunately, Pakistan has limited oil and gas reserves. The recoverable oil and gas reserves to consumption ratio is 2 and 26 years respectively. To meet the increasing demand and due limited available oil and gas reserves, Pakistan has to import oil worth more than US $ 3 billion per annum, leaving a heavy burden on national economy. Though Pakistan is endowed with a huge coal resource, as it is clear from table 2, it has not been utilized to its full potential due to poor quality, lack of infrastructure, influence of oil and gas companies, site disadvantages, transportation problems and financial constraints. Coal currently plays a relatively minor role in Pakistan's energy mix, but the discovery of large volumes in the Tharparkar could increase its usage. Source Coal Measured: Indicated: Table.2 Fossil Fuel Energy Sources of Pakistan ( ) Supplies (MTOE/Year) 2.05 Recoverable Reserves (MTOE) Oil 18.98* 34 2 Gas Life-Time+ (Years) Total *Includes imports of 16.6 MTOE (87%) + with present rate of supplies. 4

5 UTILIZATION OF COAL FOR POWER GENERATION According to World Coal Institute (WCI), more than 23.3% primary energy is met through coal while, 39% of electricity is generated from coal. The coal reserves to production ratio is much higher than that of oil and gas, as in year Figure 4, shows that the coal reserves are to be available for next 225 years or even higher no. of years Coal Oil Gas Figure 4: Reserves to production ratio in world, in year Index 1998= Coal Oil Gas Figure 5: Prices of Coal, Oil and Gas. Source: BP

6 Figure 5, shows the trend in coal, oil and gas prices in international market, since The year 1988 is taken as index and prices are compared with those of in It shows that fluctuation in oil and gas prices is continual and increasing rapidly, on the other hand coal prices remained not almost constant but also lesser than oil and gas prices. It is also estimated that due to continual increase in oil and gas prices, the use of coal, for power generation and primary energy consumption, will also be increased. Due to availability of latest clean coal technologies, coal has become more useful fuel than any other form. [8] Most of the developed and development having fast growth rate, use coal as a major source of electricity generation. South Africa, India, China and Australia, generate more than 60 to 90% electricity using coal. Where as Pakistan generates less than 0.2% using coal, against the world average of 39%, despite availability of more than 185 billion tonnes of coal. [7] 100 in Percent Pakistan World Denmark USA Germany Greece Czech Republic China Australia India South Africa Poland Figure 6: Coal-fired Power Generation as a Proportion of Total Electricity Consumption (in selected countries) COAL RESERVES IN PAKISTAN Pakistan has huge sources of coal beneath earth. More than 185 billion tonnes of coal have been measured under crust. Province Punjab 257 Balochistan 196 NWFP 82 Sindh Total Table 3: Coal reserves in Pakistan Coal reserves (million tonnes) Out of total coal reserves in Pakistan, more than 99% coal is in Sindh. World s fifth largest coal reserve (175,506 million tonnes) is in Tharparkar, south-eastern district of Sindh. [1] Table 4: Coal reserves in Sindh Area Coal reserves (million tonnes) Lakhra 1328 Sonda

7 Jherruck 1323 Others 2266 Thar 175,506 Total After the discovery of world s fifth largest coal reserves in Thar, spread over 9000 sq. km, Pakistan has now great opportunity to meet electricity demands at cheaper rates. There is also a tremendous potential of industrial and commercial coal utilization. Using the latest clean coal technologies, a new generation of energy processes that sharply reduce air emissions and other pollutants compared to older coal-burning systems. Indigenous coal can not only a worth while source to make possible to supply the electricity to 100 percent population of the country on the cheapest rates but also making Pakistani products more competitive and thereby helping in giving a boost to country s export and create a lot of opportunities of employment as well. The major problem with power generation from indigenous coal is environmental pollution, mainly greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. However, these emissions have been controlled by using different clean coal technologies. The use of coal has become very economical, efficient and environment friendly. The technologies over the years being experimented are mentioned here: Coal cleaning by washing, to reduce emissions of ash and sulphur dioxide when coal is burned. Electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters to remove fly ash from flue gases. Flue gas desulphurization reduces SO 2 to atmosphere by up to 97%. Low NO X burners reduce NO X emissions up to 40%. Re-burning and selective catalytic reduction can clean up to 90%, respectively. Advanced technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion (PFBC) will enable higher thermal efficiency. IGCC has the potential to provide what may be called zero emissions i.e. extremely low emissions. Sequestration refers to disposal of liquid carbon dioxide, once captured, into deep geological strata. [7] CONCLUSION Pakistan is facing shortage of electricity since long, despite availability natural resources. About 45% of the population has no access to electricity. Per capita supply is about 500 kwh, one of the lowest in the world. The share of coal in electricity generation is only 0.2%, where as, those of oil and gas are 15.7% and 48.5% respectively. The resources of oil and gas are limited. Pakistan imports oil of more than US $ 3 billion per annum, leaving a huge burden on national economy, despite increase in oil prices and no security of oil supply. There is huge coal potential in the country. Coal has not utilized so for, due to various reasons. Indigenous coal can be utilized to generate electricity, to reduce oil import bill, to overcome power shortages, to develop local areas, to uplift socio-economic conditions of the local people etc. The Government of Pakistan should put enough efforts for the utilization of indigenous coal, specially for power generation, to meet our forecasted future demand of electricity. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors acknowledge the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan for providing the Library, Laboratory and Internet facilities to carry out this research work. Gordhan Das Valasai also greatly acknowledges the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, for providing financial support. REFERENCES 1. Pakistan Energy Yearbook 2004 Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan. 2. Coal power for Progress, World Coal Institute,

8 3. Argiri, Maria, Environmental Impact of Clean Energy Technologies, M. Sc. Thesis, the University of Leeds, U.K., Valasai, G. D., Coal Conveying System and Steam Generation Process at Thermal Power Station, Lakhra, B.E. Thesis, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, (March, 10th 2005) 6. (March, 10th 2005) 7. Clean Coal: Building a Future through Technology, World Coal Institute, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, The way forward for the coal industry, World Coal Institute, December Coal Development Potential in Pakistan, COALCON 1986: Pakistan, Proceedings of the First Pakistan National Coal Conference, Feb , Uqaili, M. A., Energy Modeling and Energy Policy in Pakistan, Ph. D Thesis, the University of Leeds, U.K Uqaili, M.A., Shah, M.A., Harijan, K, Potential of Thar Coal for Meeting Growing Power Demand in Pakistan, paper presented at National Conference, Fossil Fuels and Mineral Resources of Sindh, Department of Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 28 February March Uqaili, M.A., Memon, M. D., Memon, H. R., Harijan, K., Prospects of Indigenous Coal Utilization with Clean Coal Technologies in Pakistan, paper presented at National Conference, Fossil Fuels and Mineral Resources of Sindh, Department of Geology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 28 February March World Energy Outlook 2004, International Energy Agency, Power System Statistics, Pakistan WAPDA, Twenty Eighth Issue, Load Forecast Update, Forecast Period , Pakistan WAPDA, August Uqaili, M.A., Memon, M. D., Harijan, K., Potential, Utilization and Demand Projections of Coal in Pakistan, Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, Volume 24, No. 1, pp , Jamshoro, January