Author: Admin

DISCOs Question Efficacy of Rs73 Billion Asset Performance Monitoring System Project

Admin
dollars

LAHORE: The Power Division and ex-WAPDA Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are at odds over the implementation of the Rs73 billion “Asset Performance Monitoring System” (APMS) project, with differing opinions on its effectiveness. In a directive, the Power Division instructed DISCOs to submit the PC-1 of the APMS project, aimed at 100KVA general duty distribution transformers, for board approval by August 9. According to the Power Division, the project aims to enhance electricity supply, operational efficiencies, and modernize DISCO operations. The distribution system lost 19.169 Tera Watt-Hour (TWh), or 16.45% of electricity,…

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New Oil and Gas Deposits Discovered, Boosting Domestic Production and Reducing Import Reliance

Admin
oil-gas

KARACHI: In a significant development for Pakistan’s energy sector, new oil and gas deposits have been discovered in the Kohat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The well, operated jointly by Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL), marks a critical step towards enhancing the country’s energy security. Additionally, PPL has revamped gas compressors at the Sui gas field to boost output from aging wells. These advancements are expected to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on costly energy imports, conserving foreign exchange reserves. In notifications…

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Government to Retire Expensive Power Plants to Lower Electricity Prices

Admin
Power-generation

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced plans to retire costly power plants in a bid to reduce electricity prices nationwide. This decision was conveyed by senior officials from the Power Division during a meeting with a delegation from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) on Monday. The discussions focused on electricity issues in Karachi and Hyderabad, and the capacity payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The MQM (Pakistan) leadership has been vocal about the poor service delivery and inflated billing by K-Electric and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company. MQM’s Member National Assembly, Mustafa…

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Chamber of Commerce and Industry Challenges IPP Deals in Supreme Court

Admin
Power genration

ISLAMABAD: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court against independent power producers (IPPs), seeking to nullify the 1994, 2002, and 2015 policies that allowed state largesse disposal without competitive bidding. Filed by Advocate Faisal Naqvi, the petition urges the Supreme Court to declare that the government and its agencies cannot profit from providing essential services like electricity. It calls for a comprehensive forensic audit of all IPPs and the implementation of the 2020 report to recover excess profits, renegotiate agreements, and shift…

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Global Firms to Review IPP Deals as Government Seeks to Cut Capacity Payments

Admin
IPPs-new

ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting criticism of independent power producers (IPPs), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a task force to engage international firms in reviewing IPP agreements and proposing measures to reduce capacity payments. Currently, electricity consumers are burdened with over Rs2.2 trillion in capacity charges, including payments to non-operational IPPs. Consumers pay Rs9 per unit to active plants but a staggering Rs18 per unit to plants that generate no electricity, amounting to 70% of the total electricity generation cost. Sources told The Express Tribune that the task force will recommend…

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