Pakistan Pursues Bitcoin Mining and Methane Capture Initiatives Separately

Pakistan is advancing two distinct energy initiatives: capturing methane from landfills and utilizing surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining. Despite social media narratives suggesting a merger of these projects, they remain separate government-backed efforts. The methane capture initiative aims to generate carbon credits, while the Bitcoin mining project focuses on harnessing excess power from underused coal-fired plants.

In May 2025, the Pakistan Crypto Council announced plans to allocate approximately 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. This electricity is sourced from coal plants operating at about 15% capacity, indicating that the country is maintaining infrastructure that is largely idle. Meanwhile, significant investments are being made in methane capture projects, particularly at the Mehmood Booti dumpsite, which has accumulated around 13 million tons of waste since 1997.

The Mehmood Booti project, led by the Ravi Urban Development Authority and the Lahore Waste Management Company, involves an investment of approximately Rs5 billion (around $17.86 million) aimed at capturing methane, flaring, and converting energy, among other environmental initiatives. This project is expected to generate around 100,000 tons of carbon credits annually, with projected revenues exceeding Rs2 billion per year. Another site, Lakhodair, is also focused on generating carbon credits aligned with international carbon market frameworks.

While there are global examples of landfill gas being used to power Bitcoin mining operations, Pakistan's initiatives have not yet been integrated. The methane capture projects are primarily focused on carbon credit generation and emissions reduction, while the Bitcoin mining initiative seeks to monetize surplus coal power. A successful merger of these initiatives would require additional infrastructure and regulatory coordination, which has not yet been established.

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Source: KLEA News