Early retirement of imported coal plants debated at SDPI forum
Speakers at an SDPI policy dialogue said capacity payments, shrinking grid sales and the choice between early retirement and Thar coal conversion are central to the debate.
Experts at the SDPI's 29th Sustainable Development Conference warned Pakistan risks staying tied to costly coal power agreements.
Falling grid demand, mounting capacity payments and delayed policy reforms could deepen the power sector's financial crisis, speakers said.
The debate is between retiring imported coal plants early with international finance and converting them to Thar coal.
Lt Gen Muhammad Zafar Iqbal (retd), Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy, said about 7,000 MW of solar was added in five years, mostly by consumers.
The government said no new coal, RLNG or furnace-oil power plants would be added.