Power supply chains face a new test

The Express Tribune says electricity networks worldwide are facing equipment and materials bottlenecks as demand grows from electrification, data centres and renewable power. The International Energy Agency estimates annual grid spending needs to rise about 50%, from roughly $400 billion to $600 billion by 2030, while delivery of the largest transformers can now take as long as four years.

The article says concentrated manufacturing and export controls add to the risk: China supplies most solar modules and dominates several rare-earth processing stages. For Pakistan, it notes that solar imports have topped $3 billion in recent years, largely sourced from China, leaving equipment costs exposed to currency weakness and delays. It argues that selective local production, diversified sourcing, better forecasting and longer-term supplier arrangements can strengthen reliability without pursuing self-sufficiency at any cost.