Guess what, Pakistan? July 2023 brought in some exciting news for our energy scene. Our power generation soared to a vibrant 14,839 GWh (19,945MW). Now that's a solid 4.9% leap from the same time last year when we hit 14,151 GWh (19,020MW).
Let's break it down. This power boost isn't coming from one source alone. Our friends at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), a brokerage house, shared the inside scoop. We're talking about a 37.7% jump in Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) generation, a cool 21% rise in coal-based power, and a whopping 11% surge in hydel energy. And hold on, the monthly play is strong too—with an 8.2% uptick from June, we clocked in at 13,715 GWh.
Diving into the nitty-gritty, let's give some props to hydel power—it sprinted ahead with a remarkable 33.5% boost. RLNG generation wasn't holding back either, flexing a 14.7% rise, while nuclear energy added its own punch with a 13.5% bump.
Now, stepping back a bit, let's look at the bigger picture from January to July 2023. We did hit a bit of a dip—8.5% to be precise—compared to last year. The total came in at 75,861 GWh, whereas we had 82,948 GWh during the same stretch in the previous year. The story behind this? Lower output from Residual Furnace Oil (RFO) by a whopping 74%, coal by 16.2%, wind by 16.4%, and gas by 11.3%.
But here's where it gets interesting. The financial side is looking sunny. Generating electricity cost us 22.1% less, settling at Rs8.34 per KWh in July 2023. Compare that to Rs10.71 per KWh from the year before. How come? Cheaper coal, RFO, and RLNG-based generation are definitely part of it. Plus, our hydel, nuclear, wind, and solar-based generation also saw impressive year-on-year hikes.
And let's not forget the energy mix party. Hydel power led the parade in July, contributing a solid 37.2% to the mix. RLNG wasn't far behind, chipping in 19.7% of the overall generation. Coal held its own at 14.7% of the power generation pie. And you know what's cool? Renewable energy sources joined the fun—nuclear energy covered 14.2% of the total energy mix. Wind, solar, and bagasse teamed up for 3.7%, 0.5%, and 0.3%, painting a promising picture of Pakistan's energy journey.
