Energy Sectors / Industries / Projects

Samlee said:
LESCO faces 1,100 MW shortfall as Matiari-Lahore HVDC line is affected; Lahore residents endure up to eight hours of power cuts; many urban centers experience 3-6 hours of loadshedding, while rural areas face up to 12 hours



Power distribution companies (Discos) across Pakistan have implemented forced loadshedding after the electricity shortfall surged to nearly 4,000 MW, including a 1,100 MW shortfall in the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) alone, impacting five districts.


The situation has persisted for several days, primarily due to dense fog in the southern region, which has caused repeated tripping of power plants. Consumers have been experiencing long hours of forced loadshedding, with urban areas facing three to six hours and rural areas enduring six to 10 hours daily.

Lahore residents are facing 8-10 hours of loadshedding, disrupting business operations and daily activities. The power cuts have also caused water shortages in several areas, as tube-wells cannot function during outages, leaving residents without access to warm water during the cold weather.


As per reports, Lesco has been facing a shortfall of over 1,100 MW during peak hours. CEO Ramzan Butt said that the company had no option but to resort to loadshedding due to reduced supply from the national grid. The company is also struggling with a lack of solar power generation, as fog has impacted the performance of solar systems, which many consumers had been relying on.

On Monday evening, Lesco’s total demand for electricity was 3,241 MW, but the supply from the national grid was only 2,160 MW, resulting in a significant shortfall of almost 1,100 MW.

Additionally, hydel power generation remains minimal this winter. The electricity demand has increased by approximately 2,000 MW compared to last year, driven by extensive use of heating appliances, according to an anonymous official.


The reduction in gas supply to Lahore-based power plants and the shutdown of a unit at the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant have further strained generation capacity. As a result, Discos have been forced to implement loadshedding in Punjab, Sindh, and other provinces.

The situation has worsened in the past few days as several southern power plants went off-grid due to fog-induced tripping. The Matiari-Lahore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission line, which supplies power to Punjab, especially Lahore, has been affected. However, officials expect improvements soon, as work is underway to restore these plants.

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and they want to invite industries to open their units here.
Essentially, it is needless number of IPPs. They have the capacity (on paper at least), but no fuel to run.
Or it was a scam ghost roads/school/health units.
 
Goenitz said:
and they want to invite industries to open their units here.
Essentially, it is needless number of IPPs. They have the capacity (on paper at least), but no fuel to run.
Or it was a scam ghost roads/school/health units.
Click to expand...
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Govt drops ‘expensive’ power plan
Naveed Butt
Published 19 January 2026
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the government, acting purely on merit, has abandoned the procurement of around 8,000 megawatts of expensive electricity, a decision expected to save nearly USD17 billion.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, the Minister said the losses incurred by power distribution companies are borne by the federal government instead of being passed on to consumers.

He said that the government is implementing comprehensive power-sector reforms, resulting in a significant increase in recovery and a reduction in losses and circular debt.

READ MORE: Weak DISCO performance added Rs397bn to circular debt in FY25: NEPRA report

He said that losses were reduced from Rs 586 billion to Rs 393 billion, while circular debt declined by Rs 780 billion last year. He further said recoveries improved by Rs 183 billion.

Leghari said there has been an improvement of Rs 183 billion in the recovery.

Speaking about relief in electricity prices, the Minister said that power tariffs have been reduced by 20 percent at the national level in last two years.

Expressing confidence, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said electricity prices would be brought at par with international rates within the next 18 months under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
 
Pakistan’s retail tariff is already ~60 % higher than China’s and keeps rising; home PV pays back in 4–5 years and delivers power at <7 PKR/kWh—one-third of the grid price—making rooftop solar the cheapest option for households.
Moreover, widespread household solar self-consumption in Pakistan helps displace costly gas-fired generation.
 
Last edited:
Pakistan Space Agency said:
Govt drops ‘expensive’ power plan
Naveed Butt
Published 19 January 2026
View attachment 173253

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the government, acting purely on merit, has abandoned the procurement of around 8,000 megawatts of expensive electricity, a decision expected to save nearly USD17 billion.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, the Minister said the losses incurred by power distribution companies are borne by the federal government instead of being passed on to consumers.

He said that the government is implementing comprehensive power-sector reforms, resulting in a significant increase in recovery and a reduction in losses and circular debt.

READ MORE: Weak DISCO performance added Rs397bn to circular debt in FY25: NEPRA report

He said that losses were reduced from Rs 586 billion to Rs 393 billion, while circular debt declined by Rs 780 billion last year. He further said recoveries improved by Rs 183 billion.

Leghari said there has been an improvement of Rs 183 billion in the recovery.

Speaking about relief in electricity prices, the Minister said that power tariffs have been reduced by 20 percent at the national level in last two years.

Expressing confidence, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said electricity prices would be brought at par with international rates within the next 18 months under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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Nice joke…

It must remembered who created the circular issue debt in the first place…

Making power power with resource/thermal based energy.. what retards

Here is a hint it wasn’t Khan…
 
Pakistan Space Agency said:
Govt drops ‘expensive’ power plan
Naveed Butt
Published 19 January 2026
View attachment 173253

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the government, acting purely on merit, has abandoned the procurement of around 8,000 megawatts of expensive electricity, a decision expected to save nearly USD17 billion.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, the Minister said the losses incurred by power distribution companies are borne by the federal government instead of being passed on to consumers.

He said that the government is implementing comprehensive power-sector reforms, resulting in a significant increase in recovery and a reduction in losses and circular debt.

READ MORE: Weak DISCO performance added Rs397bn to circular debt in FY25: NEPRA report

He said that losses were reduced from Rs 586 billion to Rs 393 billion, while circular debt declined by Rs 780 billion last year. He further said recoveries improved by Rs 183 billion.

Leghari said there has been an improvement of Rs 183 billion in the recovery.

Speaking about relief in electricity prices, the Minister said that power tariffs have been reduced by 20 percent at the national level in last two years.

Expressing confidence, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said electricity prices would be brought at par with international rates within the next 18 months under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Click to expand...
😆 🤣
 
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Islamic Development Bank delegation visits Mohmand Dam;
Expresses satisfaction over construction work.

Bank providing US $180 million for Mohmand Dam Project
January 21, 2026: A high-level delegation of the Islamic Development Bank visited the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project the other day to review progress and observe the ongoing construction works.

The three-member delegation was led by Dr. Rami Mahmoud Ahmed, Vice President Operations, Islamic Development Bank. During the visit, the delegation conducted a detailed inspection of all construction sites of the project, where senior officials of WAPDA, along with contractors and expert consultants, were present and briefed the delegation on the technical aspects of the project.

Subsequently, the General Manager Mohmand Dam, Asim Rauf Khan, gave a comprehensive briefing at the project office on the overall progress of the project. He highlighted the achievement of construction targets and explained the future course of action in detail.

The delegation expressed satisfaction on the pace of civil, electrical, and mechanical works, and appreciated the engineering standards being maintained in line with international practices.

On this occasion, the Islamic Development Bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the timely completion of the project. The Islamic Development Bank is providing financial assistance of US $180 million for the construction of Mohmand Dam.

This funding is being utilized for completion and installation of spillway gates, diversion tunnel gates, and powerhouse turbines and generators.

Dr. Rami Mahmoud Ahmed reiterated the Islamic Development Bank’s commitment to continue its support for Pakistan’s social and economic development, as well as for achieving self-sufficiency in the energy sector.
 
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Peak Sharing of Hydel Generation by WAPDA to National Grid Surges to 5005 MW with Increased Outflows from Water Reservoirs
 
Local and green

Pakistan is not expected to invest in any source of power that could put it at risk in terms of energy security,” Mr Leghari said, saying the government’s plans for the next six to eight years is to focus on indigenous clean power.

About 55pc of electricity generation now comes from clean sources, and the government aims to raise this to above 90pc by 2034, the minister said.

Hydropower produces about 40 terawatt hours of electricity annually, while nuclear generates roughly 22 TWh and domestic coal about 12 TWh, according to the minister, forming a significant share of Pakistan’s electricity supply without relying on imported fuel.

Rooftop solar installations have surged to more than 20 GW across Pakistan, with behind-the-meter capacity estimated at 1214 GW and possibly up to 18 GW, sharply reducing daytime grid demand, he said.

Hydropower output also rises in summer as river flows increase, adding up to 7,000 megawatts of capacity and helping meet higher electricity demand from air-conditioning.
 
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Port Qasim Electric Power Company
 
Diamer Basha Dam Project, the answer lies in a supply system capable of processing over 45 million tonnes of aggregate, mixing 1.87 million cubic meters of concrete, and handling 3,200 tonnes of raw material per hour.

Deep in the gorge, access was once the greatest challenge. When floods hit in 2023, Chinese and Pakistani colleagues, side by side, raced against time to restore supply routes.

Turning crisis into opportunity, the project team adopted a strategy of advance preparation and on-site assembly, backed by meticulous coordination to clear every bottleneck.

By late 2024, the first phase of the aggregate and batching system came online; by June 2025, the cooling system was fully operational. From setup to operation, the main aggregate system for Phase I was completed in just 70 days.
Today, six batching plants rise from the canyon, linked by 5.2 kilometers of conveyors.

This fully integrated supply system—processing and transport in one—now steadily fuels the dam's rise, and stands as living proof of POWERCHINA's ability to deliver under the toughest conditions.


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Rising 272 meters high, containing 18.7 million cubic meters of concrete—welcome to POWERCHINA’s Diamer Basha Dam, the world's tallest and largest roller compacted concrete dam currently under construction.

Once operational, it will supply Pakistan with around 18.1 billion kWh of clean electricity each year, driving the country’s energy transition and supporting long-term development.

More than just a megastructure, the dam is designed to deliver multiple benefits: clean power generation, reliable water storage, enhanced flood control, and even extending the lifespan of the downstream dam. It’s a true multipurpose project built for lasting impact.

Still rising at full speed, the Diamer Basha Dam Project stands as a pillar of sustainable progress—powering homes, securing water, and lighting Pakistan’s path toward a resilient future.

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