Pakistan Wind Energy Under Threat Atif Ikram Sheikh, FPCCI President

Wind Energy Producers Issue Urgent Rebuttal to ISMO Claims

A consortium of Pakistan’s top wind energy producers has strongly contested recent assertions made by the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO). The consortium asserts that the systematic and unjustified curtailment of wind power plants, which are the most affordable energy source in the country at just Rs. 14 per unit, is pushing the renewable energy sector towards a catastrophic financial breakdown.

The consortium explicitly rejects ISMO’s media statements suggesting no curtailment or effective management. They argue that the current compensation mechanism for lost energy is flawed and financially crippling projects.

By limiting access to the most cost-effective power source, ISMO is not only undermining national energy security but also threatening billions of dollars in sustainable investments.

This stance was adopted by the F Committee on Renewable Energy at its meeting on March 17, 2026, chaired by Mr. Fawad Jawed.

Immediate Action Demanded

The consortium calls for immediate action from the Ministry of Energy and NEPRA:

1. Cease Throttling Cheap Renewable Energy: Adhere to the Must Run Policy and prioritize affordable and clean energy available to the grid.
2. Reform NPMV Formula: Change compensation formula to fully compensate wind power plants for lost energy that could have been produced.
3. Full Dispatch Compliance: Shut down expensive RLNG plants in favor of full wind dispatch to protect consumers from rising fuel costs.
4. Redirect Excess Wind Energy to K-Electric Grid.
5. Complete Transmission Line and Grid Infrastructure.
6. Authorize Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Installation for Wind Plants.
7. Halt New Wheeling Auctions.

The spokesperson for the consortium criticized ISMO’s claim of adequate compensation, stating that paying 38% for full readiness is leading to bankruptcy. They emphasized that at Rs. 14 per unit, their energy is the cheapest in the country, yet it is being wasted while the nation struggles with fuel import costs.

This situation, according to the spokesperson, is an economic tragedy and a crime against the common man, as ISMO forces Pakistanis to pay for fossil fuels while clean wind energy remains untapped. The consortium calls for transparency and accountability in dispatch decisions that favor thermal plants over national energy security.