ISLAMABAD: Japan has expressed its intent to invest in Pakistan’s multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, marking a potential shift from its traditionally auto-focused investment portfolio in the country. According to the Petroleum Division, Japan is keen to join local and international partners in the project, which has already attracted investment interest from Saudi Arabia, including a proposed 15% shareholding. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) was briefed that the Finance Division supports Japan’s participation and assured there would be no undue capital flight in the form of dollar…
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Govt to Ink Rs1.2tr Financing Deal Today to Tackle Circular Debt
ISLAMABAD: The government will sign a financing facility agreement today aimed at reducing the mounting circular debt in the power sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) invited CEOs and senior executives of banks and power companies to attend the ceremony, which will be held at the PMO. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently in New York for the UN General Assembly session, will virtually address the gathering. Pakistan’s debt crisis continues to weigh heavily on its economic outlook. According to the State Bank of…
Read MoreOil Industry Seeks Cost Recovery Support for Rs50bn Digitisation Drive
KARACHI: Pakistan’s oil industry has urged the government to provide a cost recovery mechanism to support the digitisation and modernisation of the downstream sector, which is expected to cost more than Rs50 billion. The investment will be used to upgrade over 11,000 retail outlets nationwide with digital dispensers, QR codes, mobile payment options, and automated tank gauging systems. In a letter to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) highlighted that while the industry is aligned with the government’s vision, the initiative is long-term…
Read MoreEmergency Gas Pipeline on Motorway Sparks Safety Concerns in Flood-Hit Punjab
ISLAMABAD: Amid devastating floods, Pakistan’s fragile energy infrastructure is facing renewed pressure after emergency gas transmission repairs in southern Punjab raised serious safety concerns. At Jalalpur Pirwala, floodwaters damaged multiple sections of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) network, forcing engineers to lay a temporary 36-inch diameter pipeline along a six-to-seven kilometre stretch of motorway to reconnect two critical assemblies and sustain supply to Punjab. Technical experts warn that placing a high-pressure gas line on a flood-damaged motorway risks violating safety protocols and could create a serious hazard if…
Read MoreISMO’s Merit Order Reveals Wide Cost Gaps Between Pakistan’s Power Plants
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan grapples with soaring fuel costs and persistent energy shortages, the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) has released a revised Economic Merit Order (EMO) that lays bare the stark disparities in the cost of electricity generation across the country’s power plants. Prepared in collaboration with the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), the EMO ranks power plants by generation cost to guide electricity dispatch decisions. It assumes full-load efficiency, smooth fuel availability, and zero outages, though real-world operations often differ due to fuel shortages, contractual obligations, and system…
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