Overview

• ISMO convened a workshop in Islamabad to begin stakeholder consultations on the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market and its wheeling Auction Framework.
• The framework proposes to allocate 800 megawatts of wheeling demand through competitive bidding for industrial and other bulk consumers.
• Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Laghari reaffirmed full political support, citing goals to cut industrial power costs, attract investment, and integrate renewables.
• ISMO detailed market mechanics including participant registration, bid ranking, hourly marginal-price calculations with monthly settlement, and post-award licensing and guarantee requirements.
• Participants, including NEPRA, pressed for clarity on marginal pricing, Use of System Charges and stranded-capacity components, while media reports suggest commercial operations could begin by late September, which remains unconfirmed.