FPSC (Federal Public Service Commission) · CSS (Central Superior Services)
Energy Sector of Pakistan
Key Economic Sectors of Pakistan
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
46 MCQs
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1–20
of 46 MCQs
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1
Which power plant is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in Pakistan?
Answer:
Tarbela Dam
Tarbela Dam, located on the Indus River, is the largest hydroelectric power station in Pakistan. With its recent extensions (T4 and T5), it has a significantly higher generation capacity than Mangla, making it the primary contributor of clean, renewable energy to the national grid.
2
What is the primary source of power generation in Pakistan's current energy mix?
Answer:
Thermal (Fossil Fuels)
Despite efforts to shift toward renewables, thermal power (generated from furnace oil, natural gas, and coal) remains the dominant source in Pakistan's energy mix. It accounts for more than half of the total electricity generated, though it is often criticized for being expensive due to reliance on imported fuels.
3
Pakistan's first nuclear power plant, KANUPP, was established in Karachi with the assistance of which country?
Answer:
Canada
The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP-1) was established in 1972 with the technical and financial assistance of Canada. It marked Pakistan's entry into the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, though more recent nuclear projects like K-2 and K-3 have been built with Chinese cooperation.
4
The Thar Coal field, one of the largest lignite coal reserves in the world, is located in which province?
Answer:
Sindh
The Thar Coal field is located in the Tharparkar District of Sindh. It contains massive reserves of lignite (brown coal), which the government is now actively utilizing through projects like the Engro Thar Block II to reduce the country's dependence on expensive imported coal for power generation.
5
Where is the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Park, the first large-scale solar energy project in Pakistan, situated?
Answer:
Bahawalpur
The Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Park (QASPP) is located in the Cholistan Desert near Bahawalpur, Punjab. It was the first utility-scale solar plant in the country, launched to harness the region's high solar irradiance as part of the shift toward renewable energy under CPEC.
6
The Jhimpir Wind Corridor, which houses numerous wind farms, is located in which province?
Answer:
Sindh
Jhimpir is a town in the Thatta District of Sindh and is known as the heart of Pakistan's wind energy sector. The region has been identified as having ideal wind speeds for power generation, leading to the establishment of multiple wind farms by both domestic and international investors.
7
Which authority is responsible for regulating the power sector, including the determination of electricity tariffs in Pakistan?
Answer:
NEPRA
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is the independent body that oversees the power sector in Pakistan. Its roles include issuing licenses to generation and distribution companies, protecting consumer interests, and determining the tariff (price) of electricity.
8
What does 'Circular Debt' in Pakistan's energy sector primarily refer to?
Answer:
A chain of unpaid dues between power producers, fuel suppliers, and distribution companies
Circular debt is a liquidity crisis where distribution companies (DISCOs) fail to pay power producers (IPPs), who in turn cannot pay fuel suppliers (like PSO). This bottleneck is caused by high line losses, poor recovery of bills, and delayed government subsidies, often resulting in power shortages.
9
The TAPI pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas to Pakistan from which country?
Answer:
Turkmenistan
TAPI stands for Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India. The project aims to transport natural gas from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, helping to address the regional energy deficit once completed.
10
Which organization is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the high-voltage transmission network across Pakistan (excluding Karachi)?
Answer:
NTDC
The National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) manages the 500kV and 220kV grid stations and transmission lines throughout the country. It acts as the backbone of the power delivery system, linking generation plants to the regional distribution companies.
11
In the context of energy, what is 'LNG' that Pakistan began importing significantly after 2015?
Answer:
Liquefied Natural Gas
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of transport. Pakistan established LNG terminals at Port Qasim to import gas primarily from Qatar to bridge the domestic supply-demand gap in the power and industrial sectors.
12
The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project is built in which region?
Answer:
Azad Jammu & Kashmir
The Neelum-Jhelum project is an underground hydroelectric facility located in Muzaffarabad district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. It diverts water from the Neelum River through a tunnel to the Jhelum River, utilizing the height difference to generate nearly 969 MW of electricity.
13
Which of the following is an 'IPP' in Pakistan's energy terminology?
Answer:
Independent Power Producer
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are private-sector companies that own and operate power generation facilities. They sell electricity to the national grid under long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), a policy initiated in 1994 to attract private investment into the energy sector.
14
Which nuclear power plant project, completed with Chinese help, is located in the Mianwali district?
Answer:
CHASNUPP (Chashma)
The Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (CHASNUPP) complex is located near Chashma Barrage in the Mianwali district. It consists of multiple units (C-1 to C-4) built with Chinese cooperation, providing a steady base-load of electricity to the national grid.
15
What is the primary role of WAPDA in the modern era after its restructuring in 2007?
Answer:
Developing water and hydroelectric power resources
Since the unbundling of the power sector, WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) has focused solely on the development of water resources and hydroelectric power projects. Thermal power, transmission, and distribution are now handled by separate entities like GENCOs, NTDC, and DISCOs.
16
The Sahiwal Coal Power Plant, a major CPEC project, utilizes which technology to reduce emissions?
Answer:
Super-critical
The 1320 MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant was the first major coal-fired power project under CPEC. It uses advanced supercritical technology, which operates at higher temperatures and pressures to achieve greater efficiency and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional sub-critical plants.
17
Which refinery is the largest in Pakistan in terms of installed capacity?
Answer:
Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO)
PARCO, located at Mahmood Kot near Multan, is the largest refinery and pipeline operator in Pakistan. It is a joint venture between the Government of Pakistan and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, playing a vital role in the country's strategic energy security.
18
The Karot Hydropower Project, completed under CPEC, is built on which river?
Answer:
Jhelum
The 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project is a significant hydel project on the Jhelum River. It is a 'run-of-the-river' project that provides clean energy to the national grid and was developed through private investment from China.
19
Which company is responsible for the distribution of natural gas in Northern and Central Pakistan?
Answer:
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL)
SNGPL serves consumers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Its counterpart, SSGC, handles gas distribution for Sindh and Balochistan. Both are public limited companies listed on the stock exchange.
20
The CASA-1000 project is designed to bring electricity to Pakistan from which region?
Answer:
Central Asia
CASA-1000 (Central Asia-South Asia power project) aims to export surplus hydroelectricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. This regional cooperation helps utilize summer hydel surpluses from Central Asia to meet South Asia's peak demand.
