CCP to study Pakistan’s solar energy market, grid constraints, and competition barriers

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has initiated a detailed study of the country’s solar energy market to assess grid capacity limitations, regulatory hurdles, and competition-related issues, according to a news report. 

The study is being conducted under Section 28(b) of the Competition Act, 2010, through the CCP’s Centre of Excellence in Competition Law (CECL), which undertakes research to identify challenges affecting market dynamics. The findings will be shared with relevant ministries, regulators, and industry stakeholders to support evidence-based policymaking.

The CCP aims to examine the overall structure of Pakistan’s solar market, including its utility-scale, distributed generation, and off-grid segments. The commission has sought expert input to better understand competition barriers such as policy gaps, infrastructure limitations, and pricing inefficiencies.

As part of the exercise, the CCP has requested detailed responses from the Power Division on policy coordination, tariff determination, project award procedures, and the level playing field for private companies. It has also asked for information on grid integration challenges, net-metering effectiveness, and investor constraints.