Pakistan’s electricity output slumps with major declines in hydel, coal

WEB DESK: The total power generation in the country fell by 17.4 per cent in August 2024, producing 13,180 GWh compared to 15,959 GWh in August 2023.

According to data from the National Electric Power Authority (NEPRA), the power generation also dropped by 11.4 per cent from July 2024, when it was 14,880 GWh.

In the first two months of fiscal year 2025 (2MFY25), total electricity generation was 28,060 GWh, which is 8.9 per cent lower than the 30,798 GWh generated in the same period of the previous year.

According to Mettis Global, the cost of fuel for power generation also went down by 9 per cent from a year ago, averaging Rs7.49 per KWh in August 2024. On a monthly basis, fuel costs decreased by 16.4 per cent.

There were declines in power generation from hydel, coal, RFO, gas, RLNG, and wind, which fell by 10.7 per cent, 15.7 per cent, 99.1 per cent, 21.7 per cent, 23.2 per cent, and 50.5 per cent, respectively, compared to August 2023.

On the other hand, power production from nuclear, imports from iran, bagasse, and solar rose by 7.3 per cent, 37.4 per cent, 24.5 per cent, and 16.6 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

In terms of the share of electricity generation, Hydel led with 40.7 per cent in August. Nuclear contributed 16.6 per cent, RLNG 16.0 per cent, coal 15.1 per cent, and gas 7.2 per cent.

For the first two months of FY25, Hydel was the largest contributor with 38.1 per cent, followed by RLNG at 18.1 per cent, coal at 16.5 per cent, nuclear at 14.9 per cent, and gas at 7.59 per cent.

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