Islamabad: Cherat Cement Company Limited (CHCC) has approved an investment of Rs1.85 billion to install a 25 megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) along with an additional 5.4MW solar power plant at its manufacturing facility in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as part of efforts to reduce rising electricity costs and expand renewable energy usage.
The decision was disclosed in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday. According to the company, the project was approved by its Board of Directors through a circular resolution and is expected to be completed within six months from the start date.
“The installation of the BESS and additional solar capacity will strengthen the company’s renewable energy portfolio and help mitigate escalating power costs,” the notice said.
Cherat Cement has been steadily increasing its reliance on clean energy. Last year, the company commissioned a 6.065MW solar power plant at its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa facility, further reducing dependence on grid electricity.
The move comes amid a broader shift towards alternative energy sources across Pakistan, particularly solar power, which has gained significant traction in both residential and industrial sectors. According to the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED), Pakistan has already installed around 33 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity, marking an unprecedented level of solarisation.
While the rapid growth of distributed solar has raised concerns among policymakers about grid stability and stagnant electricity demand, businesses continue to invest in renewable projects to secure cheaper and more reliable energy. Recently, Kohinoor Mills Limited commissioned an additional 2.7MW of solar capacity, raising its total on-site generation to 7.2MW, reflecting the growing corporate shift toward clean energy solutions.
