Govt approves amendments to National Electricity Plan 2023-27

The Cabinet Committee on Energy has greenlighted revisions to the National Electricity Plan 2023-27, aimed at bolstering integrated energy planning, broadening electricity generation and transmission, fostering renewable power in remote regions, and enabling cross-border electricity trade. This decision was made during a Cabinet Committee on Energy meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.

The amendments pertain to integrated energy planning, raising electricity generation, supplying renewable energy to remote areas, cross-border electricity trade, expanding the transmission system, tariff design, electricity conservation, system and marketing operations, risk identification, local fuel and technology capacity enhancement, research and development, and digitization, according to the notice.

When approving these amendments, the committee directed the relevant authorities to conduct further consultations with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The High Level Design Report for the Integrated Energy Plan 2027-2060, presented by the Power Division, was also approved during the meeting.

The integrated energy plan aims to ensure energy security and economic competitiveness in the electricity/energy sector. It will involve the federal and provincial governments, as well as other stakeholders, to deliver electricity to industrial and domestic consumers at affordable prices. The plan will promote low-carbon-emitting energy production, environment-friendly energy sources, and climate change-adaptive energy solutions.

Additionally, the Cabinet Committee on Energy received reports on circular debt in the power sector and the gas sector for the fiscal year 2025-2026.