Islamabad
\nInternational experts on Wednesday underscored that while coal remains embedded in Pakistan\u2019s power system, the momentum is growing for a structured transition anchored in economic planning, just transition frameworks, and investments in renewable energy and grid modernization.
\nThe Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), convened a high-level consultative discussion on \u201cRepurposing Coal-fired Power Plants in Pakistan \u2013 Challenges and Opportunities\u201d, bringing together policymakers, experts, and energy leaders to chart pathways for Pakistan\u2019s transition away from coal.
\nOpening the discussion, Zainab Babar, Researcher SDPI set the context, highlighting the urgency of balancing Pakistan\u2019s energy needs with its climate commitments.
\nMichael Williamson, Section Chief Energy Division at UNESCAP, said coal phase-down is now a central theme in Asia-Pacific following the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact. \u201cThe urgent need is to reverse the trend of coal-fired generation capacity, strengthen climate policies through NDC 3.0, phase out subsidies for fossil fuels, and accelerate support for renewables and energy efficiency,\u201d he emphasized.
\nHe noted that coal remains deeply entrenched, providing 56% of electricity generation in Asia-Pacific, while accounting for 76% of global consumption. He warned that the region\u2019s planned 184GW of new coal capacity risks locking in emissions for decades.
\nSpeaking on Pakistan\u2019s context, Dr Khalid Waleed, Energy Economy Expert at SDPI, described the country\u2019s \u201cthree E\u2019s crisis\u201d energy, economy, and environment. He recalled how coal plants under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) added 7.2 GW of capacity but at a cost to affordability and utilization. \u201cWe are facing a planning conundrum solving one crisis often leads to another. While imported coal plants are underutilized, community-financed rooftop solar is rapidly expanding,\u201d he said, urging financial and technical repurposing options, including early retirement schemes, coal to clean credit initiative, Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), and local coal integration.
\nShah Jahan Mirza, Managing Director PPIB, underlined government targets of 40% renewable energy by 2025 and 60% by 2030, noting that with net-metered solar, Pakistan is already at 43\u201344% renewables in its energy mix.
\nHe confirmed that while Pakistan has no timeline for phasing out coal, the 2025\u201335 plan envisions no new thermal plants, with capacity additions focused on hydro, wind, and nuclear. However, he stressed that grid infrastructure remains the biggest bottleneck in scaling up renewables.
\nDavid Lone, Manager, Global Electricity Transition, Rocky Mountain Institute said coal plants could be converted into flexible grid services or even green hydrogen sites, while George Mowles-Van Ger Gaag, Associate Director of Coal Asset Transition called for a national just transition framework to safeguard jobs and communities.
\nYuki Yasui, Managing Director, GFANZ stressed that credibility and financial viability must underpin coal-to-clean transitions, while Ali Amin Policy Fellow from Transition Pathway Initiative, The London School of Economics argued for sectoral pathways that align Pakistan with the Paris Agreement.
\nEngineer Ubaid ur Rehman Zia, Head of Energy Unit at SDPI in his concluding remarks said Pakistan\u2019s transition debate has shifted from energy security to economic viability. \u201cRenewables are becoming cheaper while coal financing is nearly nonexistent. The real challenge is addressing stranded assets and capacity payments. Green upscaling and repurposing of coal power plants is the way forward,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad International experts on Wednesday underscored that while coal remains embedded in Pakistan\u2019s power system, the momentum is growing for a structured transition anchored in economic planning, just transition frameworks, and investments in renewable energy and grid modernization. The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-498237","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n