Day: November 29, 2024

Pakistan to Import 200,000 Tonnes of Diesel Amid Rising Demand

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petroleum-imports

KARACHI: Pakistan is poised to import over 200,000 metric tonnes (MT) of high-speed diesel (HSD) in December, responding to a surge in demand fueled by increased legal sales and stricter anti-smuggling measures. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has approved imports for four cargoes, with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) securing three under a long-term agreement with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and a private oil marketing company (OMC) managing one independently. Industry insiders suggest that additional imports may be necessary as demand continues to rise. Enhanced anti-smuggling efforts have significantly…

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Government Seeks IMF Flexibility on Gas Supply to Captive Power Plants

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IPPs-Project

ISLAMABAD: The government is navigating a critical challenge under the $7 billion IMF program, which mandates disconnecting Captive Power Plants (CPPs) from the gas supply by January 2025. This structural benchmark, intended to transition industries to grid electricity, has sparked concern among policymakers. In a high-level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, four federal ministers, including those for commerce, petroleum, and power, discussed strategies to address the issue. The meeting concluded with a proposal to seek a six-month extension from the IMF for implementing the benchmark while pursuing…

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Pakistan Secures $500m ADB Loan for Climate Resilience

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SBP-ADB

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has received $500 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Climate Change and Disaster Resilience Enhancement Program (CDREP). The inflow, confirmed by the SBP on Friday, will strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. “These funds will be reflected in SBP’s reserves for the week ending November 29, 2024,” the central bank stated, adding that reserves are expected to surpass $12 billion by the end of the month, up from $11.42 billion as of November 22, 2024. The loan agreement with ADB, signed…

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PM Shehbaz Tasks Fatemi to Resolve Siemens’ Concerns Over Rousch Power Deal

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Shahbaz-Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, to address grievances raised by Siemens, a German partner in Rousch Pakistan Power Limited (RPPL), regarding a new deal negotiated by the Energy Task Force led by Federal Power Minister Sardar Awais Khan Leghari. The dispute surfaced during recent Pakistan-EU talks, with the German Embassy raising concerns in a letter to the Power Minister. Siemens, which has been a key player in Pakistan’s power sector since the 1990s, expressed dissatisfaction with the settlement terms proposed…

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K-Electric Seeks Rs461 Million Refund for Consumers; NEPRA Hearing Scheduled

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K-Electric

ISLAMABAD: K-Electric has requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to approve a refund of Rs0.27 per unit to its consumers under the monthly Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for October 2024, amounting to Rs461 million. NEPRA has scheduled a public hearing on December 5, 2024, to examine the petition. The hearing will evaluate the justification for the proposed FCA refund and assess whether K-Electric complied with the economic merit order in its power generation and procurement activities. In its petition, K-Electric stated that the adjustment aligns with NEPRA’s earlier…

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