Chinese-backed energy projects among Pakistan’s top performers in national HSE rankings

ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (Gwadar Pro) — Chinese-backed energy projects ranked among Pakistan’s best-performing power operators on workplace safety and environmental standards, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Performance Evaluation Report for fiscal year 2024–25 released on Tuesday.

NEPRA assessed 149 electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies against 20 standardised HSE criteria, including safety governance, field implementation, emergency controls, documentation and incident-prevention mechanisms. Companies were scored and placed in categories ranging from “Unsatisfactory” to the highest rating of “Outstanding”.

The regulator said 97 companies were rated “Outstanding”, citing what it described as a strengthening safety culture and improved operational discipline across the power sector. It added that electricity remains a high-risk industry and stressed the importance of leadership accountability in preventing workplace and public-safety incidents.

The Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Stations and the Karachi Nuclear Power Plants (K-2 and K-3), developed in partnership with Chinese counterparts, ranked first and second, respectively, in the HSE assessment, according to the report.

NEPRA also reported high ratings for several Chinese-invested or Chinese-constructed projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including coal, wind and transmission assets. Projects cited included China Power Hub Generation Company, Port Qasim Electric Power Company, Engro Powergen Thar, Thar Coal Block-I Power Generation Company and the Pak Matiari-Lahore high-voltage transmission line. A number of wind power projects developed with Chinese technology partners also secured “Outstanding” ratings.

NEPRA said the annual HSE evaluation is intended to benchmark safety performance, encourage continual improvement and strengthen risk-management practices. Companies placed in lower categories were instructed to improve controls and compliance with the national Power Safety Code.

Chinese-backed projects under CPEC account for a sizeable share of Pakistan’s power generation capacity, the report said, linking their performance in the HSE rankings to broader efforts to improve the reliability and modernisation of the electricity system.