The troubles faced by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)—the flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—are perhaps the most conclusive demonstration that the BRI model that has been in place for the last few years is no longer sustainable. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, CPEC had stalled. Not only are the figures commonly cited for the total package…
Read MoreCategory: Recent Post
Oil Heavyweights Look Ready for a Showdown
Oil producers could be set for another showdown before the end of the year, with heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia holding different views on how to approach the halting recovery in oil demand. Renewed restrictions on travel and social gatherings across Europe, along with the tapering of state support packages for companies, are having a chilling effect on demand for crude, just as the…
Read MoreThe Qatari LNG Expansion: Build but will they come?
In April 2017, Qatar lifted what had been a 12-year moratorium on further development of its vast offshore North Field. Three years later, Qatar is steamrolling forward with the largest LNG expansion the industry has ever seen. If it so desired, Qatar could fund and construct seemingly unending expansions to its already massive, 77 million mt/year, 14-train liquefaction operation. Qatar…
Read MoreBiomass power plants produce low-cost electricity’
LAHORE: The cost of electricity from a biomass-to-electricity power plant is less than solar and wind power plants, said Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) sources. They said the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for biomass fuelled power plant as determined by NEPRA is approximately US cents 8.28/kWhr and those for coal, RNLG, wind, and solar power plant are US cents…
Read MoreEnergy sector may take circular debt to Rs4trn by 2025’
KARACHI: Engro Energy Limited CEO Ahsan Zafar Syed estimates that if the DISCO operations are not improved, the inefficiencies in country’s energy sector will take the circular debt to approximately Rs 4 trillion by 2025. He was speaking at the online Corporate Pakistan Group (CPG) Dialogue, organized under the topic ‘Fixing Pakistan’s Power Sector,’ on Friday. The speakers at the…
Read MoreNSC issuance for KE transaction: PM asks PC to move summary to ECC
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed Privatisation Commission (PC) to move a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on issuance of National Security Certificate (NSC) for KE transaction and future line of action, well informed sources told Business Recorder. These instructions were issued by the Prime Minister on September 16, 2020 at a meeting held…
Read MoreExpenditure & procurement: Power Division, GHCL on war path
ISLAMABAD: Power Division and Genco Holding Company Limited (GHCL) are reportedly on war path, on a letter written by Managing Director of the company to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of four Gencos on austerity and prudency in expenditure and procurement, well informed sources told Business Recorder. MD, GHCL, Muhammad Imran in his letter to CEOs of Jamshoro Power Company Limited…
Read MoreK-Electric seeks 80MW more from national grid
ISLAMABAD: K-Electric has sought the federal government’s assistance as low gas pressure and variation in wind power plants have hit electricity generation, causing additional load-shedding in Karachi. The low gas pressure and drop in wind power have led to an increase in electricity shortfall. In this situation, K-Electric has placed a request before the federal government to provide 80 megawatts…
Read MoreK-Electric blames SSGC for power outages
K-Electric has said that continuous disruption in the power supply is out of its hands as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) was not providing the agreed quantity of gas. The statement was issued amid prolonged power outages affecting industrial, commercial and residential consumers equally. The K-Electric, however, added that the port city, which is solely dependent on the utility…
Read MorePakistan Making Shift to Clean Power Production and Lower Energy Costs with World Bank Support
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2020 – Today, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $450 million in financing to support Pakistan’s transition to renewable energy resources that reduce its reliance on fossil fuel imports and lower costs of electricity production. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydropower and Renewable Energy Development Project will help shift the national energy mix to domestic clean resources…
Read More