Investigating Climatic Impacts on Electric Transmission Infrastructure in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Pakistan (2020-2023)

Abstract

Pakistan’s energy systems are under increasing stress due to growing demand and the frequency of climatic events. Pakistan’s case is of particular interest due to its diverse climatic zones, heavy reliance on centralised energy systems, and mounting electricity demand. The paper examined how Pakistan’s electrical power transmission systems are impacted by its climate, exploring vulnerabilities and resilience through a mixed-methods approach with a convergent design for comprehensive analysis and deeper understanding. Statistical analysis revealed significant relationships between climatic disruptions on the power system. Resilience calculated by resilience lost index (RLI), estimated down time index (EDTI), mean time to repair (MTTR) and mean time between failures (MTBF) showed a significant loss of resilience due to climatic disruptions. Proportional and qualitative analysis nuanced similar results. The paper highlighted need for enhanced planning, investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, technological incorporations and proactive policy measures to mitigate environmental risks, vulnerabilities and future endeavors in the domain for understanding the behavior of a system.