Govt to utilize local coal for generation of electricity

A consultative session was held at Nepra to discuss measures which might help in reducing the power tariff. Both the private sector and government entities were part of the session.

At the end of the discussion the consensus was reached that local fuel especially coal needs to be used for power generation instead of imported coal.

The experts and participants maintained that coal-fired power plants in Pakistan are importing coal mainly from South Africa and Indonesia which is getting expensive day by day due to the hike in dollar price as well as the ongoing Russian conflict.

Accordingly, the power tariffs of coal-based IPPs are becoming prohibitively expensive; therefore, the Authority argues that the stakeholders should explore options of optimal utilization of local coal. The session ended with the proposal to convey the various options to Federal Government for further action.

The session was officiated by Nepra Authority including Nepra Chairman Tauseef H Farooq, Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, member Sindh, and Engr. Maqsood Anwar Khan, member KP. It was also attended by representatives of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB), Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), IPPs, industrialists, coal importers and coal transporters.