Cherat Cement Augments Renewable Energy with New Solar Plant

Cherat Cement Company Limited (CHCC) has broadened its renewable energy resources by activating a 2.935 MW solar power facility at its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa location.

The cement manufacturing firm, listed on the stock exchange, announced the development in a statement to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday.

The announcement stated, “We are pleased to report that the company has initiated the remaining 2.935 MW solar power plant at its Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa factory site on June 11, 2025, as part of a total project of roughly 9 MW.”

It further stated, “Following the commissioning of this project, the company’s total in-house solar power production capacity will reach approximately 23 MW.”

The cement producer added 6.065MW to its renewable capacity in April.

Despite socioeconomic challenges, Pakistan is undergoing a green transition and has quietly become a major global market for the expanding solar sector.

According to Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2025, Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels in 2024, joining the ranks of prominent solar nations.

This increasing trend has policymakers considering its effects on the national grid and energy sector, as electricity consumption has stabilized.

In response, the federal government revealed intentions in its fiscal year 2025-26 budget on Tuesday to levy an 18% sales tax on imported solar panels.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated in his budget address to the National Assembly that the proposed tax would assist the expansion of the local industry.

This development occurs amid a solar boom in the country, with net-metering capacity in Pakistan rising to 2,813 megawatts (MW) as of March 31, 2025, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, which was released on Monday.