Pakistan plans to invest surplus electricity in Bitcoin mining and AI

Odaily Planet Daily News Pakistan is using 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence to reduce waste and promote technological development. As of March 2025, Pakistan's installed power generation capacity is 46,600 megawatts, a slight increase from the previous year. Nearly 14% of the installed capacity is idle, especially during the off-peak winter season, when demand may drop to 12,000 megawatts. Pakistan aims to turn the surplus electricity from Pakistan's underutilized thermal power plants into a source of income through Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. The move aims to transform the financial burden of capacity electricity prices into high-value digital assets. The first phase of Pakistan's Bitcoin mining plan was launched in 2025, allocating 2,000 megawatts of electricity for mining and artificial intelligence data centers. Future stages plan to integrate renewable energy (solar, wind, hydropower), marking a long-term shift of these businesses to sustainable energy. (Cointelegraph)