The World Bank (WB) has approved $375.9 million to upgrade Pakistan’s electricity infrastructure. These funds will be dedicated to the project aimed at enhancing the stability of the country’s electricity grid. It is the beginning of a 10-year long plan for the improvement of the electricity grid of Pakistan. This particular project is the first phase of the Boosting Energy Security through Transmission in Pakistan (BEST-PAK) program.
World Bank Approves $376 Million for Pakistan Power Grid Upgrade
For quite some time now, Pakistan has been facing difficulties with power. Outages of electricity are common in most regions due to the outdated transmission network that can carry insufficient power. The situation also affects the cost of producing electricity as well as the ability to exploit renewable sources of power. With this project, new devices will be installed in key power facilities in Pakistan. New technologies, including STATCOM, Fixed Reactors, and Capacitor Banks, will improve power stability. They will also help electricity flow more smoothly. This will be done in three 500 kV substations and 26 grid substation sites.
The upgraded power grid will allow up to 640 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to join Pakistan’s electricity system. This will help use the full 1,840 MW of wind power produced in southern Pakistan. The project will also connect about 491 MW of new renewable energy projects developed by private companies.
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Lower Costs and Better Energy Security
As per the World Bank, an enhanced electricity transmission network would improve energy security and increase efficiency of the electricity system. According to Bolormaa Amgaabazar, who is the World Bank country director for Pakistan, improvement of the electricity sector would be highly essential for economic growth of Pakistan. She mentioned that an improved electric grid would enhance the share of renewables in the electricity sector as well as provide enhanced electricity services.
Helping Pakistan Prepare for the Future
The World Bank Pakistan Power Network project also supports Pakistan’s goal of increasing renewable energy to 60% of its electricity mix by 2030. It is expected to reduce about 832,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions each year. Over 25 years, the total reduction could exceed 20.8 million tons.
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In addition, the World Bank has stated that Pakistan is very vulnerable to climate change, such as floods and heat waves. Due to this factor, all new equipment will be designed to endure temperature up to 55°C and will be installed in a raised position to minimize the risk of flooding. These modifications will assist in ensuring the availability of more reliable electricity generation in the long term. News source eTimes Pakistan.
