CPEC's Energy Endeavors Pave the Way for Pakistan's Energy Independence
Work is currently underway on 13 energy projects within the framework of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), spanning the entire country, with a collective capacity to generate 8,995 MW of electricity.
As reported by the Gwadar Pro media network, upon the successful completion of these initiatives, Pakistan's chronic electricity shortages will become a thing of the past.
One notable milestone achieved under CPEC was the establishment of Pakistan's inaugural joint venture, the CPHGC's Hub coal-fired power plant, capable of producing 1320 MW of power. This breakthrough has played a pivotal role in addressing Pakistan's electricity crisis in a substantive and impactful manner.
The report goes on to assert that the aspiration of an energy-independent Pakistan, once considered a distant dream, is now steadily evolving into a tangible reality.
Over the past two decades, Pakistan grappled with an energy deficit, resulting in severe power shortages that hampered economic growth and GDP expansion. According to a 2014 report by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan faced an unprecedented energy crisis. However, CPEC's energy projects have ushered in a transformative change by ameliorating the electricity deficit. The Pakistan Economic Survey for 2018-19 reported an increase in installed electricity generation capacity, reaching 34,282 megawatts in Jul-Mar 2018-19, compared to 33,433 MW during the same period the previous year—a growth rate of 2.5 percent.
This significant relief has been primarily attributed to CPEC's power initiatives, particularly coal-fired power plants. Remarkably, the contribution of coal in power generation, which had remained in single digits for the past two decades, surged to an impressive 12.7 percent in the current fiscal year.
The journey to empower Pakistan began when approximately 18 to 19 projects, out of a total of 39 Earlier Harvest Projects (EHP) valued at around US $34 billion—equivalent to 70 percent of CPEC's funding—were designated for energy-related endeavors. This focused commitment underscores the determination of the Imran Khan-led government to resolve the energy crisis. The majority of projects within the CPEC portfolio are centered around coal-based energy production.
Out of the 19 energy projects, 10 are coal-based, contributing an impressive 4,666 MW to 5,000 MW of electricity to the national grid.
Among the completed energy projects under CPEC are the Hubco Coal Power Plant, Port Qasim Coal-fired Power Plant, Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant, Engro Thar Coal-fired Power Plant, Surface Mine in Block II of Thar Coal Field, Dawood Wind Farm, Quaid-i-Azam Solar, UEP Wind Farm, Sachal Wind Farm, Port Qasim Power Plant, and the Second and Third Wind Farms of the Three Gorges.