Balochistan has enormous potential of variable renewable energy (VRE) which can electrify the province and transform it into a net exporter of energy, reducing Pakistan’s need for electricity imports, noted a World Bank study released on Thursday.
The WB in its ‘Balochistan Renewable Energy Development Study’ noted that a longer-term VRE development in Balochistan will be very beneficial for the region in particular and for Pakistan as a whole as any potential VRE surplus can be exported to other provinces— or internationally, which reduces the electricity import bill.
The existing import connection lines can then be used for stabilizing the grid, exchanging electricity with other countries at a competitive price, and optimizing the annual supply mix, it said.In the short term (2028), a surplus VRE supply may not be available for consistent export throughout the year, but there might be a seasonal opportunity for export (Reverse Power Flow) through the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA 1000) HVDC Transmission Line—soon available—to Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic and potentially to Kazakhstan)
[11/08, 2:48 pm] Zafar Paracha