Pakistan to inject 282 MW of environmentally friendly energy into national grid system by 2024 with China’s help

Islamabad: Pakistan is expecting to integrate a total of 282 megawatts (MW) of environmentally friendly energy, derived from solar, wind, and biomass sources into the national grid system by 2024 with the help of China, official said.

Pakistan is taking already steps towards establishing its first green hydrogen plant in collaboration with China, concerned government officials maintained.

The Sindh provincial government has issued a letter of intent for this project, and approximately 7000 acres of land near the Gharo Jhimpir wind corridor in Thatta have been allocated for this purpose.

Chinese energy infrastructure developers and operators are actively contributing to address Pakistan’s severe power shortages, which have been exacerbated by extreme weather and high coal prices. Some ongoing or near-completion power projects are expected to significantly enhance Pakistan’s electricity supply.

China Three Gorges Corporation, in the process of completing the 720-megawatt Karot hydropower project in Pakistan’s Punjab province, anticipates that this project will alleviate over 10 percent of the country’s reported 6,500-megawatt power deficit when it becomes operational.

The rising international coal prices, largely influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have increased the cost of power generation and posed challenges. In response, Chinese state-owned energy companies are operating at a loss to support society.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is seen as a pivotal initiative for improving Pakistan’s energy infrastructure and sustainable development. Once fully operational, it is expected to provide stable and affordable energy to meet the needs of approximately 5 million Pakistanis.

Electricity demand in Pakistan stands at around 26,000 megawatts, while supply is only approximately 19,500 megawatts, leading to severe power outages, particularly in Karachi and rural areas.

China Energy Engineering Corp (Energy China) is actively upgrading power supplies in Pakistan. Key projects such as the Punjab Power Plant Jhang and the Bin Qasim Power Station-III have recently made significant progress, contributing to the alleviation of power shortages.

These efforts reflect the commitment of Chinese companies to enhancing Pakistan’s energy infrastructure and addressing its power challenges.

Pakistani officials indicated that the energy addition will comprise 150 MW from solar, 100 MW from wind, and the remaining 32 MW from biomass.

Among these projects, three solar ventures, namely the 50 MW Meridian Energy (Pvt) Ltd, HND Energy (Pvt) Ltd, and Helios Power (Pvt) Ltd, are expected to commence supplying electricity in the coming month, contributing a cumulative 150 MW. Simultaneously, two Independent Power Producers (IPPs) wind projects, Western Energy (Pvt) Ltd and Transatlantic Energy (Pvt) Ltd, with 50 MW capacity each, are at various stages of development.

The 32 MW energy from biomass, derived from Shah Taj Sugar Mills Ltd, is set to begin generating electricity by January 2024. These initiatives are being facilitated by the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB).