Karachi: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has expressed grave concern over the escalating curtailment of wind power plants in the Gharo-Jhimpir corridor.
Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, stated that the Central Standing Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Convener Fawad Jawed, has termed the ongoing grid failures a direct threat to Pakistan’s energy security and investment climate.
“This infrastructural failure is costing the national exchequer billions, pushing green energy investors toward bankruptcy, and forcing consumers already burdened by inflation to pay for expensive imported fuel,” Mr. Sheikh said.
Despite sovereign guarantees to upgrade transmission in the Gharo-Jhimpir corridor, the National Grid Company (NGC) and Independent System & Market Operator (ISMO) have failed to expand evacuation capacity. As a result, the grid is rejecting Pakistan’s cheapest and cleanest electricity — wind power at Rs. 14/unit — while load shedding persists and the country spends billions in foreign exchange on imported RLNG and coal.
Mr. Sheikh highlighted a critical tariff paradox: Under NEPRA’s tariff mechanism, wind power generated beyond benchmark capacity falls to under Rs. 1/kWh. Yet, the system operator continues to discard this near-zero-cost local power in favor of costly thermal generation.
He further warned that the Non-Project Missed Volume (NPMV) mechanism compensates investors for only 38% of losses despite 100% plant availability, making operations financially unviable. “Launching CTBCM and wheeling auctions over a congested, failing grid will only deepen the crisis,” he added.
FPCCI’s Urgent Demands:
- Must-Run Status: Enforce priority dispatch for wind power to stop wasteful curtailment.
- Accountability: Hold NGC and ISMO responsible for failing to honor transmission upgrade commitments.
- Grid Utilization: Redirect available wind power to the national grid instead of imports.
- NPMV Reform: Revise compensation to reflect actual losses and protect investor confidence.
Mr. Sheikh urged the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Energy, and NEPRA to intervene immediately. “Pakistan cannot afford to waste its cheapest power while importing expensive fuel. This is both an economic and energy security emergency,” he concluded.
