Electricity generation in Pakistan declines 23% YoY in April

Total electricity generation in Pakistan fell by 23% year on year to 10,010 GWh in April 2023, compared to 12,960 GWh in the same period last year.

"Power generation is decreased by 23% YoY during April 2023, the highest decline since available data (Jul'12)," Arif Habib Limited (AHL) announced on Friday.

Monthly power generation increased by 15%, reaching 8,741 GWh in March 2023.

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Meanwhile, the overall cost of generating energy in the country remained unchanged year on year (YoY) in April 2023, at Rs10.24 KWh.

The cost of power generation increased by 25% month on month (MoM) when compared to Rs8.22 KWh in March.

"On a month-to-month basis, the increase in fuel cost is primarily due to a decline in a nuclear and hydel-based generation, as well as a 41% and 9% MoM increase in coal and furnace oil (FO)-based generation costs," according to AHL.

In the first ten months of the fiscal year 2022-23, power generation fell by 10% year on year to 103,593 GWh, a decrease from 114,660 GWh the previous year.

Furthermore, the cost of power generation increased 13% during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, from Rs8.2 in 10MFY22 to Rs9.3 in 10MFY23.

Data on generation mix revealed that electricity generation decline on a yearly basis was led by hydel 1,872 GWh, and Residual Fuel Oil (RFO) 221 GWh, which decreased by 22% and 86%, respectively.

Power generation from gas and Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) sources stood at 1,189 GWh and 2,418 GWh respectively, showing a decrease of 7% and 4%, respectively, on a yearly basis.

In April, nuclear and RLNG emerged as the leading sources of power generation, accounting for 43% of the generation mix combined.

Moreover, electricity generation from renewable sources including solar improved by 44% on a yearly basis to 126 GWh, while generation from other renewable sources such as wind declined by 31% on a yearly basis to 323 GWh.