Climate Change Affecting Pakistani Power Supplies
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.14.08
Basically, Pakistan's hydroelectric reservoirs are drying up. Several are reported to be at "dead level," which means the turbines can only use run-of-the-river flows, and have lower output as a result. Because natural gas supplies are also low, there are more extended power shortages.
The Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has increased the load shedding duration for domestic consumers from two to four hours, due to shortfall of power generation. The load shedding duration for the industrial sector has not yet been increased.The water level at Tarbela Dam [pictured when water was more plentiful] has reached dead level, resulting in a power generation shortfall of 1,200 MW. The hydroelectric power generation in the country has, therefore, decreased from 3,400 MW to 2,400 MW. The independent power producers, meanwhile, are generating 4,800 MW only.
One can only expect increased interest in expanding nuclear power generation capacities in such an environment. Wonder how many other nations are in a similar condition? Climate change => Impacting Foreign Policy. Who'd have thought?
Via::GuruEarth, Daily Times, "PEPCO increases load shedding duration" Image credit::Asian Development Bank, Project Photos, Tarbela Dam outfall, Pakistan.
It will be the developing nations that suffer the most. We can already see that in crops in Uganda and elsewhere. The lack of water will affect electricity in Southern Africa even more than today. But Africa is in a Catch 22 - look after those who might day today because of war, poverty, health etc or something that will kill them gradually over the next few years. i go into more detail on my blog at http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/solving-the-changing-african-climate-a-catch-22/
Climate change may have an effect, but I would guess the bulk of the problem is caused by upstream withdrawals of water for irrigation.
If they switched to parabolic solar thermal technology, for utility power generation as we are doing in the US right now, they would not need the water or the natrual gas. Pretty simple isn't it.
Have a great day!
@Jacob
It's only simple in your mind.
Ha, I love it when someone hears a about a technology and jumps right on the bandwagon. X is the answer and will fix everthing.
Don't take it personally Jacob but nothing about energy is simple. That being said using parabolic solar thermal technology in a large enough instillation(s) could offset the power not gotten from the dam and they could perhaps even gain a bit by not having to draw so much water. Wind power could be used as well. They could also address the demand side by getting people to conserve.