Caretaker Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed on Wednesday said that integrated energy planning (IEP) would help to tackle the energy crisis being faced by the country.
He made the remarks while speaking at a workshop titled “Integrated Energy Planning for Sustainable Development”, organised by the energy wing of the Ministry of Planning.
Under the Vision 2025, the IEP was envisioned in order to establish a centralised Energy Planning and Resource Centre (EPRC) that could meet demand of energy planning for rapid development.
The minister pointed out that the outcomes of the Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) model of IEP would help to achieve high industrial growth, create an export-led economic base and save foreign exchange reserves.
The LEAP model is an effort to present a holistic integrated initial approach for energy demand and supply analysis, containing all components of integrated balances, used in computing long-term energy prices under various scenarios.
During the workshop, three thematic sessions were held which included “Underlying assumptions for LEAP model estimation of integrated energy demand”, “Power sector energy mix to meet future demand using the LEAP model” and “Fuel sector planning to address future demand”.
Over the years, Pakistan has relied on imported oil, gas and coal to meet its energy needs and this reliance on imported energy commodities has burdened the foreign exchange reserves, said the minister, while appreciating the energy wing for launching the model, which would help in tackling the energy crisis.
Saeed asked the energy wing to follow the timelines for another milestone – the development of an energy information system (EIS) – that the IEP project was going to achieve. EIS will integrate energy sector data into a single universally accessible energy portal.
Speaking on the occasion, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jehanzeb Khan stressed that the role of the Planning Commission, in general, and IEP, in particular, was to go for an inclusive and growth-centred energy policymaking.
Highlighting the significance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Khan urged for a re-evaluation of Pakistan’s approach to energy planning in line with SDG 7, ie, affordable and clean energy.
He underscored the need for examining the fuels used in Pakistani households, considering their affordability and sustainability.
The deputy chairman called for adopting a holistic approach towards addressing energy-related challenges affecting the lives of Pakistanis.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2023.
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