Power Shift: Pakistan's Solar and Wind Energy Surge Shields Against LNG Disruptions

Pakistan has increased its reliance on local energy sources like solar, wind, nuclear, and coal, reducing vulnerability to global LNG disruptions. Aiming for 96% local electricity by 2034, the country now generates 74% domestically. Despite surplus capacity, theft and financial issues cause outages. Qatar's LNG halt creates potential challenges.

Pakistan's shift to domestic power sources, including solar, wind, nuclear, and coal, has decreased its risk amid global LNG disruptions, according to Power Minister Awais Leghari. The country now produces 74% of its electricity locally and aims to boost this to over 96% by 2034, bolstering energy security.

Historically plagued by electricity shortages, Pakistan has recently achieved a surplus in generation capacity, thanks to new coal, LNG, and nuclear plants. This growth, coupled with increased rooftop solar installations, has at times surpassed grid demand. However, issues like theft, line losses, and financial constraints still lead to outages.

The recent halt in Qatar's LNG production underscores the importance of Pakistan's domestic focus. LNG provides about 10% of power, primarily during peak demand. Issues in global supply could lead to limited load shedding during peak times, but efforts in solar and battery technology aim to mitigate this.

(With inputs from agencies.)