Karachi: According to official data available from K-Electric (KEL) and National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), Pakistan will have excess supply of electricity projected to be around 34,785MW by the year 2020.
The official data revealed that the country’s current power generation capacity stands at 23,234MW, resulting in a deficit which stands currently at 4,000MW. Power projects having a cumulative capacity of 3,960MW are expected to come online by 2020 from five power generation companies which would include Shanghai Electric Coal Project in Thar, Engro Thar Power project, Thalnova Coal project and Oracle Thar Project.
As the power generation capacity increases, it is significant for KEL and NTDC to ensure that it keeps on improving the transmission and distribution system in tandem which would enable it to handle this additional electricity which is expected to be added to the national grid by 2020. Around 6,000MW of additional power generation capacity is expected to be available by 2020 and more than 1,000MW of electricity is expected from renewable sources.
On further analysis of the data, it was disclosed that Pakistan’s generation capacity would exceed the projected demand by 10pc till the year 2020. Electricity demand is expected to rise by 5pc on an annual basis over the next three years. Currently, the power generation capacity is facing a 15pc shortfall of the total demand, it was noted.
In its latest industry report, National Electric Power and Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) stated “NTDC is required to construct a huge transmission network for transportation of power over the next five years. “Timely completion of the proposed transmission projects requiring a cost outlay of more than Rs67 billion is critical for the evacuation of power from the priority generation power plants to eliminate the power evacuation constraints for smooth operation and a reliable system.”
