Thermal power generation becomes largest source of power generation

Thermal power generation has become the largest source of power generation in national electricity generation mix as the shares of hydro, nuclear and renewable power have declined in FY2021 as compared to FY2020.

According to Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-21, currently thermal has the largest share in electricity generation and its percentage share in FY2021 has increased by almost one percent as compared to FY2020.

In period from July to April 2021, the share of hydel has decreased to 30.52 percent from 30.92 percent during the same period of last fiscal, while the share of thermal (RLNG, RFO, coal and natural gas) increased to 59.42 percent from the previous 58.43 percent, while the nuclear share decreased from 8.24 percent to 7.82 percent. The share of renewable decreased from 2.41 percent in July to April 2020 to 2.23 percent during the same period of current fiscal.

The installed capacity of the country increased from July- April 2020-21 to 37261 MW from 35972 MW during the same period of last fiscal.

Regarding the electricity consumption, the report said that there is no considerable change in the consumption pattern of electricity. During July-April FY2021, the share of agriculture in electricity consumption is constant. However, the share of industry has increased to 26.3 percent in July to March 2021 from 25.5 percent during the same period of last fiscal, which shows revival of economic activities. In percentage terms, the share of household decreased to 49.1 percent in July-March 2021 from 49.2 percent during corresponding period of last, commercial declined to 7.4 percent from the last year’s 7.9 percent.

Regarding oil sector, the report said that crude oil’s local extraction and imports reached to 68.9 million barrels in Jul-Mar 2021 from 58.6 million barrels in corresponding period last year, while share of import in July-March 2021 increased to 48.2 million barrel as compared to 38.8 million barrels in last year same period. Similarly, in Jul-Mar 2021, consumption of petroleum products increased to 14.7 million tons from 12.5 million tons in period under discussion. Oil storage of 38,579 metric tons was added in the country’s logistics during the period of Jul-Mar, 2021 at the cost of Rs5,786.8 million. Four licenses for construction and one license for operation of Lube Oil Blending, Reclamation and Grease Plants were issued. Five licenses for setting up Lubricant Marketing Company (LMC) and three Operational licenses for LMCs were also issued. Regarding gas supply, the report said that the average natural gas consumption was about 3,723 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) including 950 MMCFD volume of RLNG during July-Feb 2021.

On LPG, the report said that the total supply of LPG during July–March, 2021 was 927,683 metric tons. During July–March, 2020-21, one (01) license for construction of LPG production facility, nine (09) licenses for operation of LPG storage & filling plants and twenty (20) licenses for construction of LPG storage and filling plants were issued. In addition, OGRA has also issued five (05) licenses for construction of LPG auto refueling stations and one (01) license for operation of LPG auto refueling station during the same period. During July– March, 2021, an investment of approximately Rs. 17.08 billion has been made in LPG infrastructure.

Regarding the import and local production of coal, the report said that it decreased by 26.51 percent during 2020-21 to 18,558,536 MT from 25,252,291 MT.

On the net metering, the report said that AEDB has issued certificates to sixty eight (68) service providers /vendors/installers during July 2020-March 2021. As of Mar 2021, the total number of active AEDB certified service providers/vendors/installers reached up to one hundred and four (104). During the period of July 2020 to March 2021, a total of 5283 new licenses were issued by NPERA for net-metering based installation of approx. 90.15 MW. As of 31st March, 2021 a total of 10,563 generation licenses for net-metering based solar installations with a cumulative capacity of 181.27 MW had been issued by NEPRA.

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