Islamabad: NEPRA has raised more than a dozen questions over a tariff-modification petition filed for the 884MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project. SK Hydro is seeking to increase the project’s levelised tariff from about Rs9.04 to Rs9.40 per unit, a rise of roughly 4%.
A major part of the proposed increase comes from the Water Use Charge (WUC). The company has requested that this component rise from Rs0.15 to Rs0.425 per kWh — about 183% higher. Business Recorder estimates that this WUC increase alone could add around Rs25 billion over the project’s remaining life if approved.
The petition also shows the proposed project-cost base rising from about $1.817 billion to $1.927 billion, an increase of roughly $109.8 million or 6%, alongside adjustments in several tariff components.
Important: this is currently a tariff modification request, not an approved tariff increase. NEPRA’s own portal lists the petition dated September 10, 2026, meaning the regulator is still examining the company’s request.
The Suki Kinari project is an 884MW operational CPEC hydropower project on the Kunhar River in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Official CPEC records show it was completed in September 2024 and is currently operational.
