LAHORE: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, emphasized the immense potential for collaboration between Pakistan and the UAE in the renewable energy sector. During a meeting with Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan at the Governor House, the two leaders discussed avenues for enhancing bilateral ties, particularly in economic and energy sectors. Ambassador Al Zaabi…
Read MoreMonth: December 2024
Saudi Arabia Acquires 15% Stake in Reko Diq for Over Rs150 Billion
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved the sale of a 15% stake in the Reko Diq copper-gold project to Saudi Arabia for $540 million (approximately Rs150.27 billion) under the Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Act. This landmark deal underscores deepening economic ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will acquire the stake in two phases. In the…
Read MoreNationwide Crackdown on Power Theft Targets Losses, Protects Consumers
KARACHI: Power theft in Pakistan is causing widespread harm, with its financial burden either passed on to consumers as higher tariffs or added to the country’s growing circular debt, warns safety organisation Mehfooz Pakistan. This systemic issue threatens future generations while also straining the power sector. To address theft-related losses, power distribution companies are often forced to impose outages, even…
Read MorePetroleum Division Holds Key Meeting on Sales Tax Exemption for Petroleum Products
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division has convened an important meeting with oil sector stakeholders to discuss the challenges posed by sales tax exemptions on petroleum products. This meeting, taking place today (Tuesday), follows directives from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) urging swift action on refinery upgradation agreements. Representatives from refineries, oil marketing companies, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), and…
Read MoreConstruction of Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 Begins, Strengthening Pak-China Energy Collaboration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan achieved a significant milestone in its energy sector as the construction of Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) officially began with the first concrete pouring ceremony. The event, held on Monday, was attended by key dignitaries including Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, and Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy…
Read MoreK-Electric Seeks Rs 4.98/kWh Relief for November FCA
KARACHI: K-Electric has submitted a provisional monthly Fuel Charge Adjustment (FCA) request for November 2024, proposing a relief of Rs 4.98 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for its customers. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) will conduct a public hearing on January 15, 2025, to determine the FCA amount and specify the period for its application in customer bills. In a…
Read MorePrivatisation of Three DISCOs Progresses Toward 2025 Deadline
ISLAMABAD: The government is accelerating efforts to privatize three power Distribution Companies (DISCOs)—Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO)—with the goal of completing the process by the end of 2025. According to Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, the Financial Advisor (FA) will structure the transaction based on completed…
Read MoreJimmy Carter’s Visionary Leadership: The Birth of NREL and a Legacy of Solar Innovation
The staff of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) owes a lasting debt to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024. “President Carter was a visionary and a man of science who realized the potential of solar power and renewable energy,” NREL Director Martin Keller said. “The Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) began under his…
Read MoreChina Approves Construction of “Super Dam” on the Brahmaputra River, Leaving India Concerned
China has approved the construction of a “Super Dam” on the Brahmaputra River, a project poised to dwarf the Three Gorges Dam in power generation capacity. This mega-dam will reportedly produce an astonishing 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times more than the output of the Three Gorges Dam. The Yarlung Zangbo River, as it is known in Tibet, becomes…
Read MoreOil prices up on large draw from US crude stocks
NEW YORK: Oil prices settled more than 1% higher on Friday and recorded a weekly gain in low trading volume ahead of year-end, buoyed by a larger-than-expected drawdown from US crude inventories last week. Brent crude futures rose 91 cents, or 1.2%, to settle at $74.17 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 98 cents, or 1.4%, to…
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