Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 1 Unit 8: Power resources

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UNIT 8 Syllabus 2019 – 21

(a) Sources
 Describe, with the help of a simple

POWER
diagram for each method, how non-
renewable fuels (coal, crude oil and
natural gas) are extracted:
– coal as obtained by open cast,

RESOURCES adit and shaft mining methods

– natural gas and crude oil obtained
by exploration and drilling
 Understand the difference between
renewable and non-renewable
sources of electricity
 explain (briefly) how electricity can be
O Level generated from renewable resources
Pakistan Studies (hydel, wind, solar, and other
possibilities such as wave, tidal,
(Geography) biofuels, geothermal)
 Understand the importance of power
sources for development.

Javed Kausar (b) Non-renewables

 Describe the quality and the amount of
coal available from within Pakistan
and how long reserves are likely to
last, and also describe the types of
coal which have to be imported for
industrial purposes
 describe how coal both produced in
Pakistan and imported is transported
to the end users
 state how much natural gas is
produced by Pakistan, and how long
reserves are likely to last
 Describe the extent of the natural gas
pipeline network in Pakistan and
explain how natural gas can be taken
to those parts of Pakistan away from
the pipelines, and the limitations of
doing this
 State how much oil is produced by
Pakistan, how long reserves will last
and how much oil is imported, and
explain why it is necessary to import
large amounts of oil
 Describe the extent of the oil pipeline
network in Pakistan and describe the
other methods that are used to
transport both imported oil and oil
produced in Pakistan
Sale Point: Shop # 25-28 Lower Ground Floor,
Haadia Haleema Centre, Ghazni Street,  Understand that electricity can be
Urdu Bazar, Lahore. generated in a variety of ways. In
thermal power stations by burning
Tel: +92 42-35714038
Cell: +92 336-5314141 coal, oil, gas and waste, or with
Web: www.readnwrite.org nuclear energy; or with renewable
E-mail: readandwriteoffice@gmail.com
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 2 Unit 8: Power resources
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sources e.g. water (including hydel),

the wind and the sun
 Understand that non-renewable power
sources are running out, and are
increasing in price.

(c) Renewables
 Explain and evaluate the advantages
and disadvantages of the different
methods of producing electricity from
renewable resources (generated by
water, wind, wave and sun)
 Understand the physical and human
conditions that favour the
development of multi-purpose hydel
schemes
 State and explain the factors, both
physical and human, which promote or
hinder the availability of electricity and
other power resources listed, including
the feasibility of small-scale,
renewable power generation
 Explain why the supply of electricity is
not sufficient or reliable to develop
many parts of Pakistan.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 3 Unit 8: Power resources
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UNIT-8: POWER RESOURCES

Renewable Resources: which can be utilized again e.g., water, wind, sunlight.
Non-Renewable Resources: which cannot be used again e.g., coal, oil, gas, uranium.

Non-Renewable Resource Organic Minerals Renewable Resource

Fossil fuels Uranium Water  HEP, Hydal/wave
Oil Nuclear energy energy/Tidal
Gas Organic Matter Non-Renewable Sun  Radiation, solar power
Coal Wind power
Geothermal power
Biogas

Important Regions For Power Resources

 Potwar Plateau –Oil , Natural Gas
 Salt Range-Coal
 Quetta Coalfields-Coal
 Marri-Bughtti Hills Sui and Kachi Sibi Plain- Natural Gas
 Upper Sindh-Natural Gas
 Lower Sindh-Natural Gas-Mineral Oil-Coal
 Thar Coal Field

Non-Renewable Resource
Coal
 Coal is a very old fossil fuels
 Coal is formed by the decomposition of natural vegetation.

Peat Lignite Bituminous Anthracite

Least quality coal Lower quality and with high Hard coal which Found very deep, best
having low carbon moisture and ash content. It can burn easily. quality coal with most
contents. has low heating value. carbon content.

Coal Reserves In Pakistan

According to last estimates made in 2011, coal deposits in the country are up to 185 billion tons. The
largest deposits are in Thar desert, which is about 850 trillion cubic feet spanning over 10,000 square
kilometers.

Extraction of coal
Coal is extracted by Open Cast Method, Adit Mining and Shaft Mining.

Quality of coal
Quality of coal is poor. It is high in ash and sulphur content and low in carbon content. So the heat
output is low.

Difficulties in mining of coal and low annual output.

 In Balochistan water seeps in deep coal seams.
 The thickness of seam varies from 30 cm to 60 cm.
 Seams are irregular (broken)
 Seams are rising or dipping.
 Coal from Quetta coalfields starts to crumble as it comes to the surface.
These reasons have led to low production in coal.
Pakistan needs to import coal due to low production and low quality of coal.

Transportation of coal
From mines coal is transported by human labour, donkeys, and in modern mines by trolleys. Coal is
transported by trucks and rail depending on distance and amount needed of user e.g. good quality coal
from Quetta coalfields is transported by rail to Pakistan Steel after washing. Coal supplied to brick kilns
is transported by trucks.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 4 Unit 8: Power resources
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Uses of coal
Brick kilns and cement plants, Thermal power generation, Heating purposes, Steam engines

Why coal is preferred source of power

 Discovery of new and huge coal reserves in Sindh and Balochistan.
 Uncertainty of prices of oil in the international market; heavy foreign exchange spending on
import of crude oil.
 Cheaper than natural gas as fuel for cement mills.
 Gasification of coal to make coal gas: coal is heated with steam and oxygen to make coal gas,
a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane; used directly as fuel or refined into more
eco-friendly gas fuel; also liquefied coal is used as fuel.
Mineral Oil
It is most important fossil fuel which is known as “black gold”.

X = Gas
Y = Oil
Z = Water

Extraction of mineral oil

 After prospecting and exploration has been done. Derrick or drilling rig is set up.
 Drilling with diamond studded drills is started.
 Mud and water are poured to reduce friction and keep drills cool.
 While drilling pipes are lowered into well.
 When oil well is bored in oil rises with pressure to surface on top of well regulators are installed
to control pressure or is pumped and transported to oil refineries.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 5 Unit 8: Power resources
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Products Oil Refining Oil Refineries

 Petrol  Crude oil cannot be used in its raw state.  Paki-Arab
 Hioctane  It has to be processed and refined into useful Refinery Ltd.
 Jet oil products such as petrol; for cars, aero planes,  National Refinery
 Diesel heating oil, kerosene, diesel oil for truck and Ltd.
 Kerosene buses.  Byco Petroleum
 Tar  It is cheaper to import crude oil and refine it Pakistan Ltd.
 Wax locally for domestic and industrial use than to (Byco)
 Paraffin import refined products.  Pakistan Refinery
 Furnace  Crude oil production accounted for 36.15% and Ltd. (PRL)
oil import oil accounted for 63.85%.  Enar Petroleum
 Refined oil production is 33.58% whereas import Refining Facility
of refined oil accounted 64.42%. (Enar).
 A substantial proportion of Pakistan’s import bill  Indus Oil Refinery
is spent on petroleum products which is a great Ltd.
burden on Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 6 Unit 8: Power resources
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Oil Transportation

By Sea By Land
 Crude and refined Oil is transported from  On land it is transported by pipelines
Middle East and Saudi Arabia, Iran and (white oil pipeline), which is the cheapest,
UAE, by ships to Keamari Port and Port convenient method and amount
Qasim where it is stored in oil tankers. transported is more. But laying of pipelines
 The pier is a platform with on oil handing costs a lot.
system and pier is connected to the oil  By rail tankers the amount transported
handling system. less and time taken may also be more but
 The oil produces are pumped from the oil serves those areas where pipelines are not
tanker, ship to the oil marketing present.
companies.  Road transport is widely spread serves
those areas where pipelines and rail
tankers cannot reach e.g. mountains. The
amount transported is less and the cost of
transportation is also more. It may also
damage road and dangerous for humans
(accidents).
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 7 Unit 8: Power resources
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Distribution of oil fields and oil refineries

Potwar Plateau Mineral oil is produced in north i.e. Potwar Plateau and in lower/ southern Sindh along
eastern bank of River Indus. Mineral Oil produced from Potwar Plateau is refined at Attock Oil Refinery
located at Morga near Rawalpindi. Mostly serves the needs of northern Pakistan.

Karachi Refineries located at Karachi refine imported oil and oil produced from Lower Sind oil fields.
These refineries serve needs of Sind and Baluchistan. Mid Country Oil Refinery or PARCO located near
Muzaffargarh refines imported oil and serves mainly Punjab.

Why oil is imported by Pakistan

 Low reserves
 More demand, less supply
 More power requirements
 Population increase
 No, of vehicles increasing
 Tube wells in agricultural area (diesel)

Natural Gas
Natural Gas is extracted in the same way oil is extracted. After extraction it is filtered and sulphur is
added as smell to detect leakage.
 Natural gas was discovered to be one of the largest in the world.
 This gas field is considered to be one of the largest in the world.
 When natural gas is cooled to a very low temperature it turns into a liquid.
 This liquid is called liquefied petroleum gas of LPG.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 8 Unit 8: Power resources
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Major Location:

Potwar Balochistan Sindh

 Meyal  Sui  Mari (lower Sindh)
 Dhurnal  Pirkoh
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Distribution Of Gas Pipelines.

In Sind gas pipeline is leading from Sui Gas reserves to Karachi and is laid along the western bank of
river Indus. Another gas pipe line leads from the gas reserves of northern Sindh and lower Sindh and
leads to Karachi along the eastern bank of river Indus. Both pipe lines connect cities located along the
eastern and western banks of river Indus. From northern Sind a gas pipeline crosses Indus and leads
west to Quetta in Baluchistan.
From Sui gas reserve a gas pipeline leads north along both banks of Indus River. Pipeline further
extends into doabs and is connected to gas reserves of Potwar Plateau. Same gas pipeline further
extends west to Peshawar.

Organizations
ORGANIZATION YEAR FUNCTION
Geological Survey of GSP is responsible for the study of the geology of the
1947
Pakistan (GSP) country.
OGDCL (Oil & Gas
1961 To plan, promote, organize and implement programmes
Development Company
Sui Northern Gas Pipeline
1963 Transmission, purification and distribution
Limited. (SNGPL)
Sui Southern Gas Company Buying, storing, distributing, transporting, transmitting,
1963
Limited. (SSGPL) processing and selling
Pak Arab Refinery Co. Ltd. The Government of Pakistan and the Abu Dhabi National
1947
(PARCO) Oil Company
Pakistan State Oil Company Pakistan State Oil is quoted on the stock exchange. It sells
1976
Limited. (PSO) nearly three quarters of the total requirements
The hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan carries
Hydrocarbon Development
1970 out research and provides services to both government and
Institute of Pakistan.
industry.

Reasons
In Sindh all major cities are located along the banks of Indus River. East and west of river Indus
population densities decrease due to topographic, soils and climatic constraints. In Punjab cities are
spread along river Indus and its eastern tributaries and doabs because of flat land, fertile alluvial soils
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 10 Unit 8: Power resources
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and industries based on agriculture. In Baluchistan and KPK (NWFP) population is spared and densities
are low due to topographic and climatic constraints i.e. gas pipelines are laid in major towns and cities
in valleys. Areas not served by gas pipeline are provided with LPG in tankers and cylinders, which may
be expensive for consumers. Supplies may be irregular, expensive, dangers of accidents.

Distribution of power line and power stations.

In Sindh power lines lead from thermal power stations and nuclear power station located at Karachi.
Powers lines run along the both banks of river Indus as most of the cities are located along the banks
of river Indus. The thermal power plants are being run on oil and gas. In Punjab power lines are laid
along eastern tributaries and across the doabs. Power lines lead from thermal power plants and HEP.
In Punjab population densities are high and industries are present. In Baluchistan and KPK (NWFP)
power lines are present in valleys as most of the population is present there. In KPK power lines lead
from HEP stations.
Nuclear Power

Fission  Atom split

 Energy released in the form of heat
 Used to generate electricity (Heat is used to steam as in case of burning the fossil
fuels, Steam moves turbines rapidly; electricity is produced by rapid movement of
turbines).
 In atomic reactors
 Uranium is used for this purpose
Fussion  Energy is released in the form of heat by combing (fused) of nuclei of two atoms
 It is not used in atomic reactors
 Uranium is used for this purpose
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 11 Unit 8: Power resources
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Environmentally friendly  Can cause cancer
 Efficient  Up front cost in high
 Few accident  Accidents can happens
 Speeds up the process of industrialization  Pakistan has lack of
by providing more energy examples:  Investment
 Karachi Nuclear Power Plant KANUPP  Non-renewable resource
 Chasma Nuclear Power Plant ChasNUPP  Waste is radioactive and is difficult to
process and dump it

Power plants if Pakistan

1. Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP).
2. Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (ChasNUPP), near Mainwali.
3. Only small percentage of total electric power production by nuclear resources.

Thermal energy
Electricity which is produced by the use of fossil fuels as oil, gas and coal is thermal energy. The
construction of thermal power projects is low but its running cost is very high producing very expensive
electricity.

Credit any three correct of (L to R): boiler, steam, turbine, transformer, reservoir, cooling tower

Renewable energy resources

Energy coming from the sources that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 12 Unit 8: Power resources
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WATER SUN WIND GEOTHERMAL WAVE BIO GAS

HEP Solar energy Motion Heat energy Tidal energy Fossil fuel
energy/Wind
power
HEP mechanism
 Water of river falls on turbine
 Turbine moves
 Electric charge created
 Electricity produced

HEP requirements
 Steep sided narrow v-shaped valley in mountains (non porous rocks)
 Fast flowing rivers
 Large reservoirs
 Adequate rain fall throughout the year / snow melts
 Large amount of money required build dam

HEP compared with thermal power plants

 High initial Cost  Thermal Power Energy

 Low maintenance / running cost  Low initial Cost
 Can be built in mountainous areas  High running Cost
 Uses renewable energy  Can be built anywhere
 Impact on environment through  Uses non-renewable Resources
deforestation  Effect on environment through Air pollution,
smoke/CO2

Solar Power:
 The energy of sun light, solar power is used in several ways.
 One way is to collect it in solar cells (photovoltaic cells).
 Solar cells can power radios and even small cars.
 Solar furnaces use giant mirrors to focus the sun’s rays on a boilers.
 Steam from the boiler is used to make electricity.
 Solar panels collect heat energy from the sun.
 Pakistan has the potential for solar energy as there are 250-300 sunny days.
 Solar power is safe, pollution free, efficient and limitless.
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Environmental friendly. No air pollution  The initial/installation cost of is high.
 It is a renewable resource  Maintenance cost is high.
 Running cost is very low  Not suitable for cloudy areas.
 Cheap electricity  Burden on weak economy.
 Safe and limitless supply as 250-300 sunny
day
 Can be used in rural electrification

Wind Power:

 Winds mills driven by Motion power

 Clean Environmental friendly
 Kinetic power converted into mechanical power
 Cheaper electricity is produced
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Renewable resource  Expensive
 Environmental friendly  Not constant
 Rural electrification – Independent  Kill birds + bats  harm to ecosystem
 No need to connect small villages to  Large wind farms are needed as they are
national grid (infrastructure cost) in efficient thus reducing land availability
 attracts tourists – scenic beauty  Needs areas with high wind speeds
 wide range of sizes available  Inefficient
 solve energy problems and lead to  High initial & maintenance cost
industrialization  Limited to volcanic areas
 Wind farms  income for farmers, small  Risk of earthquakes and eruption
industries in rural areas & more rural
employment.

Geothermal
 Heat energy of the earth can be used to generate electricity
 Available in the form of very hot water (e.g., hot springs / geysers) or heat deeper into the earth
surface.
 The earth’s stored heat constantly flows to the earth surface by conduction, and is replenished
by radioactive decay at a specific rate.
 Hot water/steam is extracted by drilling, and this is used to move turbines in order to produce
electricity.
 In Pakistan, AEDB (Alternative Energy Development Board) is working on the feasibility of
developing geothermal power plants.
 Many parts of Pakistan’s land are part of a global seismic belt, with a long history of geotectonic
events, e.g., northern and western mountains.
 These areas have potential to be used for setting up geothermal power plants.
 Pak needs to: identify sites and estimate cost, size of heat resources.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Renewable source providing constant  High cost of construction and maintenance
power supply.  Site – specific; plants can be set up
 Widely spread areas, from the northern to preferably in the volcanic areas only.
the southern end, suitable for building  Threat to the power plants by sudden
power eruption of lava and earthquake tremors.

Wave and Tidal Energy

Wave Power
Wave motion can be used to compress air to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Makran coastal
area has strong wave energy which could help generate electricity. The coastal cities as Gwadar,
Pasni, Ormera, Gidani etc are being developed. It is expensive and produces limited supply.
 The rising water forces air out of the chamber and this moving air rapidly spins a turbine to
produce electricity.
 Kinetic energy of the waves is used to power a piston up and down inside a cylinder.
 Renewable, eco-friendly and clean power resource.

Tidal Power
It is a renewable method of producing electricity by movement of tides. Tides are generated due to
gravitational pull of the moon. The advantages of Tidal power include being renewable, providing a
constant supply and environmental friendly. The disadvantages are that it would be very expensive
to build.
 Tides coming into the shore are trapped in a reservoir behind a dam.
 A huge increase in tides is needed: at least 16 feet between low tide and high tide, in order to
provide enough energy to move the turbine.
 Only some plants working in the world, e.g., in France.
 It’s a 170 Km creek system (tidal basin) where tides flow at high speed.
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ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Renewable power resource.  Highly expensive for Pakistan.
 Sustained power production without any  May have adverse effects on marine and
pollution. wildlife habitats.
 Possible disruption of the ship movement
system if alternative arrangements not
made in advance.
 Siltation may also occur.

Biomass
 Organic material, obtained from living and decaying plants is called Biomass. e.g.,
microorganisms, plants, agricultural residue.

Organic material (Agricultural, Paper waste, Vegetable oils, Animal waste, Vegetable peels)

Biogas
 It is the cheapest source of energy. It will increase air pollution because methane is a
greenhouse gas. If cow during is used in Biogas, we will be short of natural manure in fields.
Load Shedding
 When the demand is more than the supply of power, load shedding occurs, it results in great
economic damages.

Causes
 Many power plants are not working to their full capacity.
 During winter the HEP decreases due to decrease in flow of water in rivers.
 Long transmission lines cause loss of electricity.
 Siltation in reservoirs results in low storage capacity of waters in dams.
 Power theft on a large scale.
 Waste of electricity due to line losses.
 High price of fossil fuels increases cost of electricity generation.

Problem of supplying electricity to rural areas

 High cost of transmission lines and poor quality
 More power loss in long transmission lines and grid stations
 Low return less population density
 Geographical reason – northern areas /rugged/mountainous / snowfall
 Difficult to carry machinery and equipment
 Electricity theft
 Difficult to main transmission lines during natural disasters
 Economically not feasible

Advantages of renewable energy

 Sustainable and renewable
 Environmental friendly
 Free at source
 Can be set on small scale

Advantages of Rural & electrification

 Tubewells can be installed for irrigation
 Increased agricultural production and decrease /control of water lagging and salinity.
 Standard of living is improved
 people can use electrical appliances
 Small-scale industries can be at up to provide employment and to meet demand for industrial
goods
 People can receive the electronic media and access information technology.
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Power Distribution
 WAPDA and KESC are the main organizations involved in power generation, transmission and
distribution of electricity.
 The Karachi nuclear power plant (KANUPP) a public sector organization and some independent
private produces (IPP) are also involved in power generation.

Why is it difficult to develop HEP power stations in Pakistan?

 Climate changes so: less rainfall
 Higher temperature and more evaporation /smaller glaciers
 Liable to siltation in reservoirs
 High cost
 Lack of investment / limited capital /limited finance
 Opposition from tribal areas in mountains
 Lack of skilled labour/expertise
 Opposition to loss of land for reservoir
 Dispute over share of water between provinces
 Limited construction sites such as valleys in mountainous area

Importance of power resources for economic development

 Industrial plants use power in processing raw notarial
 Modernization of agriculture is dependent on power resources
 Tube wells use electricity and agricultural machinery like tractors
 Threshers and combine harvesters use oil as fuel for functioning used in exploration and
extraction of metallic and won metallic minerals. Leads to more raw material for industries and
employment in mining sector.
 Reduces dependence on imported power resources. Saves F.E and improves balance of
payment. Helps modernization of society. Economic development has become dependent on
communication devices which cannot operate without an efficient power supply.

Sample Question
Study Fig., which shows the amount of oil produced in Pakistan and the amount of oil imported, for
selected years.

(a) Name the location of one oil refinery in Pakistan. Give one reason to suggest why it is located
there.
 Morgah/Rawalpind – close to oilfields (in Potwar Plateau);
 Central Punjab – close to oilfield;
 Karachi/Korangi – near oil terminals/close to oilfield/port;
 Mahmood Kot/Muzaffargarh – terminus of crude oil pipeline from Karachi.

(b) Complete Fig. by drawing the bar for 2009, using the information below:

2009 Barrels/day
Imported 185 000
Produced 60 000
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 Bar correctly drawn on Fig.

(c) Compare the amount of oil produced and the amount of oil imported in Pakistan in the years
2011 and 2013.
 The amount of oil imported increased/higher/rose/figures from 150 to 370–380;
 The amount of oil produced decreased/fallen/figures from 60–70 to 55–65/almost
constant/stayed the same;
 The total amount of oil increased/overall it went from 210–220 to 430–440.

(d) Give two reasons why Pakistan imports large amounts of oil.
 Small reserves/potential oilfields not explored/small amount produced;
 Lack of government investment/funding for further exploration/lack of money for developing oil
fields/ exploration/expensive equipment;
 Lack of technology/expertise for extraction/exploration/ lack of skilled labour;
 (Large/increasing demand for) oil for vehicles/transport;
 Heating/domestic use/cooking;
 Electricity generation/electricity;
 Manufacturing/manufactured products;
 Cannot exploit/explore reserves due to tribal opposition/insurgency;
 Due to population growth.

Study Fig., which shows population and electricity production in Pakistan over the period 2000–
2014.

A Describe the relationship between population and electricity production from 2000 to 2008.
Positive correlation/as population increases, electricity production increases/both
increasing/population is always higher/more than electricity production (or vice versa);

B Describe the changes in population and electricity production since 2008.

Population increases: electricity production remains same/very slightly increases/population kept
increasing/ electricity did not have much change.

Explain why electricity production does not meet the demand for electricity in many parts of
Pakistan. You should develop your answer.
 Population increasing (greater need/greater use of electricity in homes/businesses) (named
example of new technology in home/business)/(new towns have to be built because growing
population puts a burden on electricity);
 Increased affluence for some (enables more electrical appliances in the home or named
examples/items are becoming more affordable);
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 Little new investment in new power stations (foreign investors less willing to invest due to
political instability) (other government priorities such as
healthcare/education/housing/transport/alleviating poverty);
 Pakistan has small/inaccessible/depleting fossil fuel reserves (fossil fuels expensive to
extract/poor quality/ have to import);
 Renewable energy plants expensive to construct;
 Power losses due to old/long transmission lines;
 Power theft (people diverting existing power sources for their own use);
 Most people live in rural areas (electricity does not reach there/lack of infrastructure/power
lines);
 Many power plants are not working to full capacity (as a result of siltation in dams and
reservoirs)/(they are still under construction);
 Power breaks down (lack of expertise to handle it)/(due to old machinery);
 More rural to urban migration (means demand cannot be fulfilled);
 Seasonal variations (less HEP generation in winter as less rainfall/snowmelt at times of peak
demand).
ETC.

Electricity can be generated using solar power. Complete the passage below by choosing the
correct words from the list and placing them in the spaces provided.

Rectangular, solar panels are made up of many solar cells which convert the light energy from the sun
into electrical energy. They can be placed on the roofs of houses and other buildings. Large arrays of
solar panels can be sited on the ground, for example, in deserts. Solar panels should face south in
order to collect as much of the sun’s energy as possible. Other solar power systems use the sun to heat
water and the steam is then used to turn a turbine

What are the disadvantages of generating electricity by wave and tidal power?
 Expensive technology/expensive investment for government;
 Small scale/only generates small amounts of electricity;
 Only at coastal sites;
 Hazardous to marine life/damages habitats;
 Disruption to shipping/fishing areas;
 Difficult to set up/inadequate technology;
 Not enough output to meet demand;
 Can be damaged or disrupted by cyclones or tsunamis;
 Shortage of expertise/knowledge/skills to set up.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 19 Unit 8: Power resources
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Read the following two views about solutions to Pakistan’s shortage of energy:

Which view do you agree with more? Give reasons to support your answer and refer to examples
you have studied. You should consider both View A and View B in your answer.
For large-scale
 Funding available from China
 Provide very large amounts of power from small amount of uranium
 Large coal reserves

Against large-scale
 Large sums of money/loans needed
 Problems with disposing of/reprocessing/storing waste
 Danger of insurgency threat/accident
 Danger of flooding
 Coal extracted in Pakistan is poor quality for power generation
 Oil expensive to import
 Large coal reserves not exploited
 Fossil fuel reserves are depleting
 Political issues between provinces with the construction of multi purpose dams over division of
water

For small-scale
 Lower cost to maintain
 Renewable resources do not deplete
 Renewable resources do not pollute the environment
 Biogas – cheap source of energy
 Wind – available land in Balochistan highlands
 Solar – many parts of Pakistan experience 250–300 sunny days per year

Against small-scale
 Do not contribute/only small amount to national grid
 Renewables only generate small amount of energy
 Wind/solar have high construction cost
 Wind is considered unsightly/harms wildlife
 Not constantly producing energy
 Biogas decreases availability of manure for organic fertiliser
ETC

Sample Question 2
Study Fig. 1 which is a diagram of an HEP (Hydel) power station.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 20 Unit 8: Power resources
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A. On the diagram place an arrow or arrows to indicate the direction of movement of water
through the power station.
B. Choose two terms from the list below and use them to label the diagram in two of the spaces
provided.
outflow turbine reservoir dam
 A: Arrow(s) drawn downwards through channel
 B: From L to R: reservoir dam turbine outflow
 NB: ‘water intake’ top left space not used
Name one multi-purpose dam in Pakistan.
 Tarbela/Mangla/Warsak

Give two uses for a dam such as the one you named in (ii).
 HEP/electricity [generation]
 Irrigation
 Water supply / stores water [for industrial/domestic use]
 Controlling floods
 Recreation/named recreational use/tourist attraction
 Fishing

Sample Question 3
Study Photographs D and E (Insert).
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 21 Unit 8: Power resources
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Name the type of renewable energy being generated.

 D wind
 E solar

Give three advantages of renewable energy.

 Will not run out/does not deplete natural resources
 Clean/do not pollute (environment)
 Free at source
 Can be small scale

Give three disadvantages of generating energy by either D or E.

Wind
Not constant, ineffective if wind speed too low/too high, unsightly, noisy, expensive to build, small
output, can harm wildlife e.g. birds

Solar
Not constant, needs clear skies, not at night, less in winter, expensive to build, small output

Study Fig. 6, a map of Pakistan.

Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 22 Unit 8: Power resources
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On the map name the two dams shown, and the rivers on which they are situated.
 X Tarbela, Indus
 Y Mangla, Jhelum

With reference to water supply and relief (topography) explain why it might be possible to build
more HEP (hydel) power stations in areas such as that shown in Photograph C (Insert).
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 23 Unit 8: Power resources
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Water supply
High rainfall, melting glaciers, melting snow, low temperatures/evaporation, continuous supply from
rivers/rain (max 2)

Relief (topography)
Deep valleys, narrow valleys, steep slopes/steep-sided valleys, waterfalls, high altitude (max 2)

Give three reasons why it is difficult to develop more HEP (hydel) power stations in Pakistan.
 (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)

To what extent is it possible to increase the electricity supply to rural areas?

Possibilities
 Extend national grid
 Increase (national) power generation/nuclear power
 More/good potential for renewable schemes, wind, solar, HEP (max 2)
 (allow dev to further max 2 for details)
 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 named skilled personnel, e.g. engineers
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 24 Unit 12: Population
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