Islamabad: In a move to reduce energy costs and alleviate pressure on foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan’s Minister for Power, Awais Leghari, announced plans to request Chinese-operated power plants in Pakistan to switch from imported to local coal sources. This strategic shift is expected to harness the coal reserves of the Thar region, potentially saving billions in import costs annually.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Minister Leghari, in an interview with Reuters, emphasized that converting power plants to use Thar coal instead of imported coal could significantly decrease the cost of energy in the near future. He highlighted that this transition would not only benefit the operational efficiency of the Chinese-owned power plants but also bolster Pakistan’s economic stability by cutting the annual import bill by more than 200 billion rupees.
The anticipated savings from using local coal sources could lead to a reduction in the price of electricity by as much as 2.5 rupees per unit, offering a substantial relief to the national economy and an advantage to consumers across Pakistan.