Pakistan’s electricity generation fell 9.7 percent year on year to 9,498 GWh in April 2026, although output recovered 6.3 percent from March levels, according to data compiled by Topline Securities.
The sharp decline in RLNG based generation was largely offset by higher contributions from nuclear and coal fired power plants, which continued to gain prominence in the country’s energy mix.
During the first 10 months of FY26, total power generation reached 102,628 GWh, up 2 percent from 100,660 GWh in the corresponding period last year.
Growth was supported by increased generation from nuclear, imported coal, local coal and gas based plants, which compensated for declines in RLNG, solar and hydel generation.
A category wise breakdown shows nuclear energy remained the largest source of electricity generation in April, producing 2,097 GWh and accounting for 22.1 percent of the total fuel mix, compared with 17.9 percent a year earlier.
Hydel generation stood at 2,079 GWh, representing 21.9 percent of total output, though generation declined 10 percent year on year.
Local coal based generation contributed 1,482 GWh, while imported coal generation rose 27 percent to 1,343 GWh. Combined, nuclear and coal based generation accounted for 51.8 percent of Pakistan’s electricity production during the month.
Gas-Based Electricity
Gas based generation increased 15 percent year on year to 968 GWh, accounting for 10.2 percent of the fuel mix. In contrast, RLNG based generation plunged 82 percent year on year to just 380 GWh, reducing its share in the generation mix to 4 percent from 20.5 percent a year earlier.
The decline marks one of the most significant shifts in Pakistan’s power sector over the past year, with nuclear and coal emerging as the primary replacements.
Alternative Energy
Among renewable and alternative energy sources, wind power generation declined 14 percent year on year to 409 GWh, while solar generation dropped 44 percent to 64 GWh.
Bagasse based generation increased 200 percent to 111 GWh, though its overall contribution remained limited at 1.2 percent of the fuel mix.
Furnace oil based generation surged 483 percent year on year to 486 GWh, increasing its share to 5.1 percent from 0.8 percent a year earlier.
Nuclear
Nuclear’s share increased by 4.2 percentage points to 22.1 percent, while imported coal rose by 4.1 percentage points to 14.1 percent. Local coal contributed 15.6 percent of generation, bringing the combined coal share to 29.7 percent. Meanwhile, RLNG recorded the largest decline, with its share falling by 16.5 percentage points to just 4 percent.
Fuel Cost
On the cost side, average fuel cost for electricity generation declined 5 percent year on year to Rs. 9.4 per unit in April 2026 from Rs. 9.9 per unit a year earlier. However, fuel cost increased 17 percent on a monthly basis from Rs. 8.1 per unit in March.
For 10MFY26, the average generation cost stood at Rs. 8.3 per unit, down 5 percent from Rs. 8.8 per unit in the same period of FY25.
Among major fuel sources, hydel, wind and solar remained the lowest cost sources with near zero fuel costs. Nuclear generation cost stood at Rs. 2.8 per unit, making it one of the cheapest large scale sources of electricity.
Imported coal generation cost averaged Rs. 17.6 per unit, while gas and RLNG stood at Rs. 13.8 and Rs. 13.7 per unit, respectively.
Furnace oil remained the most expensive mainstream fuel source at Rs. 45.3 per unit.
