The potential coal-phase out and renewable energy development offer Pakistan substantial prospects for enhancing energy accessibility, affordability, and fostering green growth. However, the major barriers to coal phase-out and renewable scale-up point to political, economic, and legal factors.
Economically, Pakistan struggles with circular debt issues within the power sector exacerbated by exchange rate risks and price increases of fuel imports. These factors strain Pakistan''s ability to allocate fiscal and financial resources to transform the current electricity structure.
Building upon the political and economic analysis, this report presents actionable policy recommendations to harness enabling factors and navigate barriers.
The full report is published on this webpage of the Green Finance & Development Center (GFDC) at FISF, Fudan University.
Pakistan like many nations, faces the urgent need to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The potential coal-phase out and renewable energy development offer Pakistan substantial prospects for enhancing energy accessibility, affordability, and fostering green growth. However, these long-term green benefits have been superseded by Pakistan''s short-term concerns regarding energy security, a persisting energy crisis, intricate political-economic circumstances, and vested interests. As a result, the overall progress towards a green transition has thus far been limited.
Pakistan''s coal expansion is primarily driven by support from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Its coal capacity has rapidly grown from 0.15 GW in 2015 to over 7 GW by June 2023, with China backing 90% of the current capacity. An important aspect of Pakistan''s coal and fossil fuel-based generation is its reliance on imported fuels, which has threatened fuel supply and caused significant power shortages. However, through enhanced mining capabilities in the local Thar coal region facilitated by CPEC, Pakistan envisions overcoming its energy crisis by leveraging its vast Thar coal reserves and indigenous solar and wind sources over the next decade.
Despite the massive potential, support from Pakistan government and China, and favorable cost of generation and tariffs (which are already cheaper than coal and other conventional forms), the development of solar and wind capacity in Pakistan has remained slow. As of June 2022, solar and wind sources contribute only 6% to the overall capacity. It is evident that some non-economic factors have impeded the progress of renewable development and the phase-down/out of coal in Pakistan. Achieving transformative change and diminishing the role of coal in the medium to long term requires a deep understanding of the local political economy.
This report conducts a comprehensive political-economic analysis to examine the objectives and interests of key stakeholders and their intricate interplay, which significantly influence the formation of barriers and drivers associated with Pakistan''s prospective phase-down/out of coal and the parallel expansion of renewable energy sources.
The major barriers to coal phase-out and renewable scale-up point to political, economic, and legal factors.
At the same time, key enabling factors for an accelerated energy transition in Pakistan exist. Several global initiatives are active in Pakistan, particularly the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). They focus on the phase-out of fossil fuel-based power and provide essential transition mechanisms and financing tools while engaging in principles of a just transition. Notably, the ongoing research conducted by the ETM on the phased closure of coal and other fossil fuel-based plants in Pakistan represents a potential avenue for piloting a coal phase-out project.
Simultaneously, China''s increasing adoption of sustainable practices in their overseas investments signals the potential for constructive dialogues regarding debt and contract restructuring to repurpose existing coal projects in Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistan''s clear targets for renewable energy development, coupled with the evolving landscape of renewable energy policies and green finance frameworks, further solidify the foundation for a comprehensive green transition.
Building upon the political and economic analysis, this brief presents actionable policy recommendations (simplified below) to harness enabling factors and navigate barriers particularly with Pakistan being a core Belt and Road Initiative country:
Heat map for recommendations to accelerate Pakistan''s green energy transition
To accelerate the energy transition over the next 2-5 years, several recommendations seem relevant:
In the long term (over the next 7-10 years), further recommendations can be taken under consideration:
Read the full report here
Ziying Song is a Researcher at the Green Finance & Development Center. She previously served as a Senior Analyst at CDP and a consultant at China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group (CECEP) Consulting in Beijing, China.
Muhammad Basit Ghauriis a Program Associate at Renewables First in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Christoph Nedopil Wang is the Founding Director of the Green Finance & Development Center and an Associate Professor at the Fanhai International School of Finance (FISF) at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
Mehran Idris Khan, Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, Yen-Chiang Chang; An overview of global renewable energy trends and current practices in Pakistan—A perspective of policy implications. J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1 September 2020; 12 (5): 056301. https://doi /10.1063/5.0005906
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Dec 5, 2018, LAHORE (IEEFA): A new report asserts that, as renewable energy is now the cheapest form of electricity generation in Pakistan, the government could reduce its reliance on expensive power plants and fossil fuel imports in favour of cleaner, more accessible electricity for people and businesses.
The report, "Pakistan''s Power Future: Renewable Energy Provides a More Diverse, Secure and Cost-Effective Alternative," produced by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), examines the current energy system in Pakistan while suggesting an alternative energy model out to 2030.
The report finds that Pakistan''s current power mix has an over-reliance on outdated fossil fuels technology and seasonal hydro power generation, roughly split in a ratio of 70:20:10, being 70% thermal and 20% hydro, with nuclear power making up most of the rest.
IEEFA''s proposed energy model to 2030, which would provide a cheaper, more diversified electricity generation system for Pakistan and therefore greater energy security, is roughly split in a ratio of 30:30:30:10 between 30% renewables, 30% thermal, 30% hydro, and 10% nuclear power.
IEEFA financial analyst Simon Nicholas, co-author of the report, said IEEFA''s 2030 energy model would result in a more cost-effective electricity system that is better placed to serve Pakistan''s power needs into the future.
"The current energy model puts a huge cost burden on consumers, businesses and the cash-poor government of Pakistan through an over-reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports and costly hydro, nuclear and coal-fired power plants often being built well over budget," Nicholas said.
"IEEFA''s modelling suggests the Pakistan government can achieve almost 30% renewable energy generation by 2030, through proven clean energy technology already in place in Pakistan.
"By relying more on cheaper renewable energy, the 2030 model reduces the cost pressures of imports and delayed projects, creating the setting for government to attract investment in the abundant domestic wind and solar resources yet to be harnessed."
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