Pakistan's Separate Bets: Bitcoin Mining on Surplus Coal Power and Landfill Methane for Carbon Credits

Pakistan is advancing two distinct energy projects: capturing methane from major landfills like Mehmood Booti to generate carbon credits, and using surplus coal-plant electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. The methane capture aims for around 100,000 tons of carbon credits annually, while the mining initiative would use roughly 2,000 MW of idle capacity. These efforts are separate, despite social media speculation linking them. No confirmed project connects landfill gas to crypto mining yet, though similar operations exist elsewhere. The article clarifies that methane capture focuses on emissions reduction and carbon market revenue, while Bitcoin mining targets monetizing surplus coal power. For readers tracking carbon market projects or grid utilization, this is a useful case study on how countries pursue multiple energy monetization tracks without merging them.