{
  "id": 13066833,
  "title": "The cheapest megawatt Pakistan isn't producing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/the-cheapest-megawatt-pakistan-isnt-producing",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-09T08:07:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40443438/the-cheapest-megawatt-pakistan-isnt-producing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's energy crisis has been dominated by discussions around who should sell electricity to industry. While the focus is on making power cheaper and optimizing efficiency, the root of the problem lies in the nation's industrial motors. These workhorses of production consume nearly half of all industrial electricity in Pakistan, and many are outdated, poorly maintained, and inefficient. Surveys conducted by SAMA^Verte in three cities found that 60-80% of motors in the field have been rewound multiple times, significantly reducing their efficiency. With each rewind, an already inefficient motor's performance drops further, consuming more electricity and costing owners substantial amounts of money. Despite this, factory owners often blame high electricity bills and load-shedding for their profit squeeze, unaware that their motors are a significant factor. The inefficiency of motors goes unnoticed, as there is no diagnostic testing and motors are graded on an international efficiency scale, with current Pakistani machinery at the lowest levels. The issue is further compounded by a lack of awareness about energy efficiency standards and testing infrastructure. To address this, Pakistan must tackle upfront costs, establish testing infrastructure, and regulate the import of end-of-life motors. Until these barriers are addressed, Pakistan is losing a significant amount of its cheapest megawatt, not in unexploited resources, but in the inefficiency of its industrial motors.",
  "summary": "Pakistan’s energy conversation has, for months, revolved around a single question: who should sell electricity to industry? NEPRA just approved uniform wheeling charges for bulk power consumers, clearing the way for the country’s first competitive 400-megawatt electricity auction. The DISCO privatisation debate rages on in opinion columns and ministry corridors. Everyone is focused, reasonably,…",
  "key_points": [
    "60-80% of industrial motors in Pakistan have been rewound multiple times.",
    "Inefficiency of motors leads to higher electricity consumption and costs.",
    "Lack of diagnostic testing and efficiency standards exacerbates the problem."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}