Pakistan sheds 300 MW of coal-fired project, opts for solar PV - report

The government of Pakistan has decided to give up a plan envisaging the construction of a 300-MW coal-fired power complex in the port city of Gwadar and instead build a solar park with of same capacity, The News International reports.

Officials from the Ministry of Energy have said that the government has requested China to install the photovoltaic (PV) complex through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) arrangement, which covered the thermal electric scheme. They have informed the newspaper that the new plan has yet to be taken to CPEC forums.

According to the government’s website, the coal-fired project in Balochistan province was planned to be realised at a cost of USD 542.3 million (EUR 529.8m). While the project was cleared in 2016 and has a power purchase agreement (PPA) in place, its construction has not been initiated and financial close is “under process.” The proposed facility was intended to use imported coal supplies.

Pakistan’s minister for power division, Khurram Dastgir Khan, has told The News that the government seeks to ban new power projects planning to use imported fuel and rather add capacity that relies on local resources.

Pakistan aims to make renewables account for 60% of its total power mix by 2030. The goal was initially set at 30% and revised early in 2022.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.977)

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