Pakistan has unveiled an ambitious plan to use its 2,000 megawatts of excess electricity for bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in a bid to reduce energy waste and accelerate the country’s digital transformation.
Pakistan Uses 2,000 MW of Surplus Electric Power for Bitcoin Mining, Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Technological Development
As of March 2025, Pakistan's total electricity generation capacity will be 46,600 MW, a slight increase from the previous year.
However, a significant portion of this capacity remains idle at 14%, especially during low demand periods in winter when national demand can drop to as low as 12,000 MW.
To address this inefficiency, the Pakistani government plans to repurpose underutilized thermal power plants and aims to convert excess electricity into revenue-generating opportunities through high-value digital assets and computing power.
In the first phase of the initiative, which is launched in 2025, 2,000 MW has been allocated to support the development of crypto mining facilities and AI infrastructure.
Pakistan plans to integrate renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower into these activities in the future. This shift represents a long-term step towards sustainable energy use within its emerging digital economy.
This strategy not only aims to ease the financial burden of capacity payments for idle facilities but also prepares Pakistan to join the global race for blockchain and AI innovation.
*This is not investment advice.
