Power generation surges 7.1% in September

KARACHI: The overall power generation went up 7.1 per cent to 14,032GWh (19,489MW) during September 2021, compared with 13,104GWh (18,200MW) during September 2020.

“The rise in generation is witnessed due to higher generation of nuclear, wind, furnace oil, bagasse, coal and hydel,” an analyst at Arif Habib Limited said.

In the overall generation, hydel contributed 36 per cent, re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG, 19 per cent), coal (17 per cent), nuclear (9 per cent), gas (9 per cent), furnace oil (7 per cent), wind (2 per cent), and solar contributing 0.4 per cent.

During the month, fuel cost for power generation increased 65 per cent to Rs6.80/KWh, mainly due to a rise in RLNG, coal, furnace oil, gas and HSD-based cost of generation. However hydel and wind-based generation were higher, compared with the same month last year.

“The rise in [the] fuel cost is attributed to 120 per cent surge in RLNG-based cost of generation to Rs14.9/KWh due to 125 per cent rise in RLNG prices to Rs2,586/mmbtu.”

Moreover, the coal-based cost of generation surged 67 per cent to Rs10.1/KWh due to 182 per cent rise in coal prices; FO-based cost of generation increased 54 per cent to Rs19.2/KWh; and gas-based cost of generation also went up 23 per cent to Rs8.3/KWh.