| Abstract |
Writer of this abstract joined IGA in 2000 when its headquarter had migrated from New Zealand to Italy. Since then, all key personal from the old creed of IGA Membership know that this writer has been almost a solo voice for about more than a decade pointing out geothermal resources of Pakistan. Government Setting, policies & interest, development & funding: Once the WAPDA (Water & Power Development Authority) was sole authority to develop all power resources of the country. They had even established a renewable energy cell at Lahore to deal all renewable energy resources, but later WAPDA authority was curtailed and limited to Dams only. In the meantime an already established Alternate Energy Development Board (EDB) came ahead, and then apparently began to act as sole responsible authority for alternate energy resources. If the policies & regulations of AEDB are read, it becomes obvious that they have mostly concentrated on monopolizing and cartelizing all alternate energy development efforts/activities. Anyone outside of AEDB thinking to establish alternate energy projects will have to go through lengthy bureaucratic rules & regulations. Moreover, AEDB people’s main vision seems to be concentrated around solar & wind, and some minor nature energy resources only. Since one & half decade, VERY REGRETABLY, to mention that they have almost ignored geothermal energy. Geology Background – SHORT overview of country’s geological setting (with map). Below is a general overview map showing gradient of enthalpy country-wide: Geothermal Resources and Potential – Wherever low or high enthalpy brines are present on earth, those are clear indications of geothermal resources presence. I had included a chart of such brines of Pakistan in my past papers and it is still valid (for my new paper) regardless of natural changes taking place due to human ignorance or misuse of such places. Geothermal Utilization – (if any) – along with the completion of Tables 1-8 and a discussion of: - Electric power installations and generation has increased due to political pressure or due to people reaction against governments but this increase is only due to installation of imported fuel (oil, LNG & coal) burning power plants (Tables 1 and 2) – Direct-use – Number of spas and swimming pools remains same (Tables 3 and 5) in Pakistan – However no. of Geothermal (ground-source) heat pump installations in private sector has minor increase in numbers, because of advance imposition of taxes & duties on geothermal related cooling/heating units (Table 4 and 5) Discussion - Tables 1-8 pointing out anything unusual or questionable data, and growth since WGC2015: – Until and unless geothermal development is totally exempted from all taxes and duties till full development of geothermal industry in the country, Cost of geothermal electric generation and direct utilization will remain totally discouraging with present taxes/duties, and fossil fuel electricity will continue to prevail as dominant energy in the country - Future Development and Installations – ONE WORD: “unpredictableâ€. As main corrupt politicians have gone but their sown or planted beaurocrats are still there, so geothermal energy can only be developed in Pakistan if the matter is got briefed to new prime minister of Pakistan who is a patriotic & powerful person to nominate someone to develop this energy. |