Renewable energy sources like solar are now more affordable and reliable than imported natural gas in India and Pakistan, according to the authors of the newly released report. While gas prices remain high and volatile due to geopolitical conflicts, the plummeting cost of wind and solar power has allowed these cleaner alternatives to dominate new energy growth in the region.
The report notes that “Gas use is cost prohibitive in the power sector compared to coal and renewable power” and highlights that “solar power has already proven a cheap and rapidly deployable solution in Pakistan.”
Basically, the cost of generating electricity from natural gas has become so high that it no longer makes financial sense for these countries to use it for power. In contrast, solar energy has become a bargain, allowing it to be rolled out quickly to meet the growing demand for electricity. While gas depends on expensive and often unreliable international shipping, solar power provides a local, budget-friendly alternative that helps keep the lights on without the risk of sudden price spikes from global conflicts.
The briefing ‘Southern Asia’s gas plans may be overblown’ was released by Global Energy Monitor in March 2026. Prepared by authors Robert Rozansky and Julie Joly, the report analyzes how geopolitical shocks and falling renewable costs are undermining ambitious gas infrastructure projects across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
