Karachi — The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has raised concerns over the continued curtailment of wind power plants, warning that grid limitations are undermining Pakistan’s renewable energy sector and increasing economic pressure.
Speaking on behalf of FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Renewable Energy, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said persistent transmission constraints are causing major financial losses for investors while limiting access to lower-cost electricity.
The committee, chaired by Convener Fawad Jawed, stated that repeated delays in improving transmission infrastructure in the Gharo–Jhimpir corridor continue to restrict the evacuation of wind-generated electricity into the national grid.
According to FPCCI, these constraints prevent consumers from benefiting from one of Pakistan’s lowest-cost sources of electricity, which it said is available at approximately Rs14 per unit. The organisation argued that continued dependence on imported RLNG and coal increases energy costs and places additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
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FPCCI also questioned current operational decisions in the energy sector, citing regulatory determinations that indicate wind energy produced beyond benchmark capacity can fall below Rs1 per kilowatt-hour.
The committee said that despite the availability of lower-cost local generation, system operators continue to prioritise imported thermal power sources.
FPCCI further criticised the Non-Project Missed Volume (NPMV) mechanism, claiming that the existing structure compensates only a portion of investor losses even when power plants remain fully operational and available for dispatch.
The business body warned that introducing the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) and wheeling auctions without strengthening transmission infrastructure could place additional stress on the electricity network.
FPCCI urged the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Energy and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to intervene and implement reforms, including enforcing must-run status for wind projects, improving accountability mechanisms, increasing grid utilisation and reviewing the NPMV framework.
The organisation said timely action would help strengthen investor confidence and support Pakistan’s transition toward renewable energy.
