Karachi Faces Severe Gas Crisis Amid Winter Chill

Gas

KARACHI: The city of Karachi is reeling under a severe gas crisis as plunging temperatures force residents to rely on costly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Scheduled gas load-shedding from 9:30 PM to 6:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM is exacerbated by widespread unannounced outages and low pressure, leaving many without adequate gas supply throughout the day. Residents attribute this recurring winter crisis to aging infrastructure and leaks in the city’s gas distribution network. Sources at Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) confirmed that rehabilitation efforts are underway to address…

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Research Highlights Fire Risks in Building-Integrated PV Facades

Fire-Risks

A Danish-Norwegian research team has shed light on critical factors influencing fire propagation in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) facades, revealing that the gap distance between panels and walls, as well as combustible materials in wall cavities, play significant roles. The study, conducted by researchers from Norway’s RISE Fire Research AS, the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC), and Denmark’s Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI), involved 35 experiments, including 25 with photovoltaic (PV) modules and 10 with green plant systems. “PV modules contain polymers that can ignite,” explained Reidar Stølen…

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Global Lithium-Ion Battery Demand Surpasses 1 TWh in 2024

Electric-Vehicle

For the first time in history, annual global demand for lithium-ion batteries has exceeded 1 terawatt-hour (TWh), driven by record-breaking electric vehicle (EV) sales and robust deployments of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in November 2024. This milestone marks a significant leap from 2023, when the threshold was narrowly missed, according to Rho Motion, a London-based market research firm. Lithium-ion battery demand is projected to grow by 26% year-on-year in 2024, reflecting the continued expansion of the EV market. EVs remain the largest consumers of lithium-ion batteries, yet their growth…

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Power Ministry Urgently Seeks Rs400 Billion to Meet IMF Circular Debt Target

New-IMF

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Power has issued an urgent appeal for the release of Rs400 billion in subsidies by December 2024 to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) conditions under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Failure to comply risks escalating the circular debt beyond the agreed threshold, jeopardizing financial stability and IMF commitments. So far, only Rs82 billion of the allocated Rs1,229 billion subsidy for FY2024-25 has been disbursed by the Ministry of Finance. To meet IMF requirements, another Rs318 billion must be released immediately. Under the Circular…

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K-Electric CEO Advocates for Balanced Tariff to Support Investments

Moonis-Alvi

ISLAMABAD: K-Electric (KE) CEO Moonis Alvi expressed willingness to revise the company’s proposed multi-year tariff during ongoing discussions with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra). He emphasized the need for a sustainable tariff structure to support investments in Pakistan’s power sector while addressing consumer concerns. Speaking on Geo Television’s “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath,” Alvi stated, “We are open to healthy debate and ready to adjust any abnormal elements in the tariff.” He highlighted that the proposed tariff of Rs44.69/unit for 2024–2030, filed two years ago, reflected a higher…

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