Government Approves 1,200MW Solar Power Plant Despite Surplus Electricity

solar-powe

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has decided to move forward with the construction of a 1,200-megawatt solar power plant in Layyah, Punjab, even as the country grapples with surplus electricity and financial pressures in the energy sector. The project, with a Rs6.2 billion allocation for land acquisition, aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels but may exacerbate existing challenges in the power sector. Despite having an installed generation capacity exceeding 42,000MW, the country’s electricity consumption averages only 22,000MW to 24,000MW, leading to costly idle capacity payments. The Ministry of Finance…

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Feroze Power, Maysun sign MoU to set up solar panel production unit in Pakistan

New-01-1

Feroze Power (Pvt) Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding with Maysun Solar to establish a solar panel production plant in Karachi. This initiative aims to boost local production of clean energy equipment in Pakistan, to increase renewable power generation while minimizing the impact on the country’s foreign currency reserves.“One of the main objectives is to ensure the necessary transfer of technology for indigenous production of renewable energy equipment as a major step towards Pakistan achieving the stage of self-reliance in the power sector,” said FPL Chief Executive Officer, Sohail…

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Oil Sector Calls for Urgent Revision of OMC Margins Amid Rising Costs

oil and gas

KARACHI: The oil sector has urged the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to revise the margins for oil marketing companies (OMCs) to alleviate growing financial pressures. In a letter to Ogra’s chairperson, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) highlighted several issues, including smuggling, high financing costs, turnover tax, and insufficient margins, all of which are straining the industry. The OCAC pointed out that the last margin adjustment occurred in September 2023, and the revision is now overdue. The OCAC recommended increasing the OMC margins for high-speed diesel (HSD) and…

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Nationwide Crackdown Seals 917 Illegal Petrol Pumps

Illegal-Petrol

ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping crackdown on illegal petrol pumps, provincial governments have sealed 917 outlets operating without the mandatory K-Forms (explosive licenses). The operation primarily targeted petrol stations abandoned or surrendered by oil marketing companies (OMCs), along with numerous illegal “dabba” stations selling smuggled petroleum products. Authorities revealed that 1,310 illegal retail outlets selling smuggled petroleum products were identified, with the majority in Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Sindh, and Balochistan. The operation resulted in 559 closures in Punjab, 58 in Sindh, 172 in KPK, and all 128 illegal…

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Pakistan Energy Expo Kicks Off: LCCI President Calls for Urgent Energy Sector Reforms

Energy-Expo

LAHORE: Mian Abuzar Shad, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), inaugurated the three-day Pakistan Energy Expo at the Lahore Expo Center on Wednesday. Speaking at the event, Shad emphasized the critical need for reforms in the energy sector to address the challenges hampering the country’s economic growth. Joined by Acting Chinese Consul General Mr. Cao and Chief Organizer Atif Zeeshan, Shad stressed that high energy tariffs are crippling industries and urged the government to lower electricity costs, especially by regulating Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He advocated…

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