'Pakistan’s battery storage imports hit 4.5GW in first six months of 2026'
A Pakistan Solar Association representative has said that the country imported over 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage equipment in the first six months of 2026 alone - nearly equalling half of the nation’s entire cumulative historical imports of 9.5GW. This surge in energy storage adoption, driven by citizens and industrial enterprises seeking relief from exorbitant utility tariffs, served as…
Pakistan imported over 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage equipment in the first six months of 2026, nearly matching half of the country's total historical imports of 9.5GW. This surge in energy storage adoption was driven by individuals and industrial enterprises seeking cheaper power, as reported by the Pakistan Solar Association.
During a Parliamentary Dialogue, the need for long-term energy planning was emphasized, with battery storage seen as crucial for optimizing the power sector over the next two decades. Convener Sher Ali Arbab stressed that current energy production was underutilized during peak hours, while facing rapid growth in electric vehicles and data centers.
Dr Nafisa Shah warned against unregulated market dynamics and the potential influx of sub-standard, dangerous battery imports. Concerns were raised about capital misallocation in the industrial sector, as factory owners and industrialists were forced to spend twice as much on battery storage compared to production machinery. The Ministry of Energy announced plans to launch tenders for four 10 Megawatt-hour pilot battery energy storage system (BESS) projects and designated battery storage as a regulated asset, allowing distribution utilities to reduce costs by half compared to constructing new grid stations.
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