NEPRA Approves $58B Power Plan Amid Major Reservations

Key Takeaways

• NEPRA conditionally approved the $58 billion Integrated System Plan (ISP) 2025–2035.
• All three NEPRA members issued dissenting notes regarding project modifications.
• The approval excludes battery storage systems (BESS) and K-Electric's 2028 transmission line.
• Regulators raised concerns over bypassing the constitutional Council of Common Interests.
• Officials highlighted conflicting reports between power sector administrative bodies ISMO and PPMC.

NEPRA Conditionally Approves $58 Billion Energy Roadmap

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has conditionally approved the Integrated System Plan (ISP) 2025, according to a report by Dawn News. The ambitious 11-year strategic document entails an estimated $58 billion investment across Pakistan's power generation and transmission sectors from 2025 to 2035.

Despite the final approval, the 45-page decision highlights deep internal disagreement within the regulator. All three NEPRA authority members, including the chairman, authored over 12 pages of dissenting and advisory notes regarding the framework.

Governance Concerns and Constitutional Bypass

A primary point of contention centered on bypassing the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the constitutional body responsible for national energy policies. NEPRA members emphasized that technical committees within the power division cannot override or dictate national policy without proper CCI authorization.

Strategic Project Exclusions

The regulatory approval selectively excluded specific major components from the immediate scope:

• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• K-Electric Ltd (KEL) transmission line expansions planned for 2028

Additionally, regulators noted contradictory statements from key administrative bodies, including the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) and the Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC), underscoring ongoing governance issues within the sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NEPRA's Integrated System Plan (ISP) 2025?

It is an 11-year, $58 billion strategic roadmap detailing power generation and transmission expansion in Pakistan from 2025 to 2035.

Why did NEPRA members express reservations over ISP-2025?

Members raised concerns over bypassing the Council of Common Interests and unauthorized modifications made by power division technical committees.

Which major projects were excluded from the ISP-2025 approval?

The conditional approval excluded the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and K-Electric's planned 2028 transmission line expansion.