Pakistan has only 8,200MW surplus installed electricity generation capacity over its peak demand.
According to The Nation, summer peak demand in 2021 reached 25,300MW against the installed generation capacity of 33,500MW.
The documents referred to by The Nation compare the installed generation capacity and the peak demand of electricity in Pakistan with India’s installed generation capacity and peak demand in 2020, Bangladesh’s in 2019, Germany’s in 2018, the USA’s in 2018, Brazil’s in 2016, and Malaysia’s in 2016.
Accordingly, India’s total installed capacity in 2020 was 374,199MW while its peak demand was 180,000MW, making its peak demand only 48 percent of its installed capacity.
Similarly, Bangladesh’s total installed generation capacity in 2019 was 22,787MW while its peak demand was 12,893MW, making its peak demand 57 percent of its total installed capacity.
The USA’s total installed generation capacity in 2018 was 1,097,000MW and its peak demand was 704,000MW. Consequently, its total peak demand was 64 percent of its installed generation capacity.
Germany’s entire installed generation capacity in 2018 was 206,000MW while its peak demand was 86,980MW. Thus, its total peak demand was 42 percent of its installed generation capacity.
Brazil’s overall installed generation capacity in 2016 was 148,271MW besides a peak demand of 83,000MW, which made its total peak demand 56 percent of its installed generation capacity.
Additionally, Malaysia’s total installed generation capacity in 2016 was 25,404MW while the peak demand was 17,778MW, which made its total peak demand 70 percent of its installed generation capacity.
However, Pakistan’s total installed generation in 2021 was 33,500MW while the peak demand surpassed 25,300MW to make its total peak demand 75.70 percent of the total installed generation capacity.
Ultimately, the country needs at least 10 percent extra generation over and above the demand to meet the peak demand.
so we can not afford electric cars/bikes/buses . . as it will boost demand instantly and beyond our capacity