Power Sector Reforms Can Help Pakistan Save $4.8 Billion Annually: World Bank

Power sector reforms can help Pakistan save $4.8 billion in business losses annually as inefficiencies in the sector cost the country’s economy $18 billion or 6.5 percent of GDP in the fiscal year 2015.

A new World Bank report said that the costs of defects and inefficiencies of the power sector are far greater than the previous estimates based on only fiscal costs.

The report said that the reforms could save Pakistan’s economy $8.4 billion in business losses and could increase total household incomes by at least $4.5 billion a year.

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The report titled “In the Dark: How Much Do Power Sector Distortions Cost South Asia” states that Pakistan has made great strides in expanding electricity access and capacity. As many as 91 million more people are receiving electricity for the first time from 1990 to 2010. However, up to 50 million people still do not have access to the national grid and frequent load shedding damages businesses, health and living standards of consumers.

Pakistan can boost economic growth and job creation by overcoming inefficiencies in its power sector,” says Illango Patchamuthu, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.

Reforms that address these distortions can make better use of existing facilities. These need to focus on eliminating waste, promoting the shift towards cleaner energy and attracting private investments.

Almost a fifth of electricity generated is lost through poor infrastructure, faulty metering, and theft. Load shedding is caused by high cost, losses, and subsidies which compromise investments and the ability to procure fuel.

The lack of grid electricity also impacts health, as it leads to greater use of kerosene lamps, causing indoor air pollution linked to respiratory infections and tuberculosis risks.

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The report argues that reforms that focus solely on liberalizing energy prices would lead to an excessively high cost of electricity because of inefficiencies in the system negatively impacting the poor and vulnerable.

Reforms must, therefore, go beyond liberalizing energy prices to address several aspects of the power sector distortions, including prioritizing gas allocation for efficient power generation and adopting tariff mechanisms that encourage performance.

For the benefit of consumers, reforms should focus on rationalizing consumer prices for electricity and gas to reflect supply costs; and social assistance to help vulnerable populations cope with increased energy prices. Increased access to reliable power must be made a priority, the report recommends.

“Power sector reform should be a top priority as few other reforms could yield economic gains of a similar magnitude so quickly, based on findings from this report,” says Fan Zhang, Senior Economist at the World Bank and author of the report. “If well designed, these reforms will directly benefit the poor by increasing access, improving reliability, and reducing cost and pollution.”