Korean Hydropower Projects in KPK Stalled Amid Regulatory Challenges

korean hydropower projesct

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has reportedly declined to support Korean firms developing hydropower projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), leaving multimillion-dollar investments in limbo due to their exclusion from the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP). Korean companies, including LSG Hydro Power Limited (LSG HPL) and Korea-South East Power Company (KOEN), have faced repeated hurdles despite making substantial progress. LSG HPL’s…

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Rapid Solar Growth Shifts Rs200 Billion Burden to Non-Solar Consumers

soalr energy

ISLAMABAD: A report by Arzachel, titled “The Distributed Divide – How Solar Expansion Affects Non-Adopting Consumers and Utility Economics,” reveals that non-solar consumers in Pakistan bore an additional Rs200 billion burden in FY 2023-24 due to the rapid adoption of solar energy. This surge has led to a Rs2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) increase in tariffs for grid-dependent users. The report…

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IMF Gas Reforms Trigger Conflict Between Ministries

IMF Gas Reforms

ISLAMABAD: A looming deadline to disconnect gas supplies to industrial power plants by January 31, 2025, has sparked a dispute between the Finance Ministry and the Petroleum Division, exposing cracks in the $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal. The Petroleum Division accuses the Finance Ministry of accepting the IMF’s condition without adequately assessing its impact, warning of a potential…

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NEPRA to Hold Public Hearing on Winter Relief Package

Power project

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has scheduled a public hearing on November 26 to consider the federal government’s proposed winter incentive package aimed at boosting electricity demand during the low-consumption months. The subsidy-neutral package, approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on November 19, is set to be implemented from December 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025.…

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COP29 achieves full operationalisation of Article 6 of Paris Agreement – Unlocks International Carbon Markets

cop29

November 23, Baku: Today, the COP29 Presidency announced the end of the decade-long wait for the conclusion of negotiations on high integrity carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This was one of the Presidency’s top priorities for the year and it drove Parties towards this milestone achievement through intensive dual-track technical and political negotiations. This strategy broke through…

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Consortium withdraws bid to acquire majority stake in Engro Powergen Qadirpur

ENGRO-1

A consortium comprising textile companies has withdrawn its public announcement of intention (PAI) to acquire a majority stake i.e. 68.89% of Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL), a subsidiary of Engro Energy Limited. The development was shared by Arif Habib Limited (AHL), manager to the offer, in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday. “This is with reference to…

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Global LNG: Asian spot LNG gains amid colder weather, stronger Europe gas prices

gas prices

SINGAPORE: Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices rose this week to their highest level of the year so far, tracking gains in European gas and amid colder temperatures in both regions. The average LNG price for January delivery into northeast Asia rose to $14.60 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), industry sources estimated. “This week’s further escalations between Russia…

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Business fraternity appeals to Army Chief to assume Karachi’s ownership for six months

Army-Chief-1

Karachi: The concerned Karachi-based businessmen and industrialists have earnestly appealed to the Chief of Army Staff to assume ownership of the provincial capital just for six months to resolve its basic civic issues, as the business fraternity in turn will help Pakistan retire its massive foreign debts.Noted businessman and former chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers, Hanif Gohar,…

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EU Carbon Taxes Threaten Pakistan’s Exports, Experts Advocate for Equitable Energy Transition

EU-Carbon

KARACHI: Experts have warned that Pakistan’s reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity generation, particularly coal, could jeopardize its exports to European Union (EU) countries as new carbon taxation measures take effect. The warning came during an event co-hosted by the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), which explored the socio-economic and…

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Refinery Upgrades at Risk as IMF Rejects POL Sales Tax Proposal

Refinery-Upgrades

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rejected the government’s proposal to impose a 1-2% sales tax on petroleum products, including petrol, high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene oil, and light diesel oil (LDO), instead calling for an 18% sales tax. An 18% sales tax would increase petrol prices by Rs45 per litre, a politically sensitive move the government is hesitant to…

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