KP Govt Plans Its Own Power Grid and Transmission System

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government is pursuing the development of its own transmission and grid system to enhance electricity supply and cater to the industrial energy requirements of the province. During a recent meeting, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi received an update on this ongoing project, which falls under the purview of the Energy and Power Department.

Afridi emphasized that KP should claim its constitutional entitlement from its hydropower and other natural resources, highlighting the province's vital role in meeting Pakistan’s energy demands. KP currently supplies more than 70% of the nation's total hydropower to the national grid, but the lack of a provincial transmission network has compelled the region to sell its electricity through the existing system.

Addressing this issue, CM Afridi instructed officials to present the proposed provincial transmission line project at an investors' conference. He described the project as highly lucrative and noted that several countries have expressed interest in investing in it. Additionally, officials shared that KP generates approximately 530 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, compared to the province's consumption of about 200 million cubic feet.

Furthermore, KP produces around 850 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per day, while its consumption amounts to approximately 600 tons. KP also contributes 48% of Pakistan's crude oil production and 38% of its LPG output. In order to assert KP's energy and resource rights, Afridi directed the relevant departments to engage with the federal government through a formal and effective mechanism.