LAHORE – Load-shedding will increase in the coming days as power demand is increasing because of the rising mercury, however, power generation is stagnant and there is little likehood it would increase before March 15, sources told Pakistan Today on Wednesday. Currently, the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) is carrying out four-hour load shedding in urban areas and 10-hour load-shedding in rural areas. The demand is roaming around 11,700MW while production stands at 10,300MW thus there is least a 1,400MW shortfall.
The current power situation prevailed during cold weather when power demand was low.
However, with change in weather the power demand will increase. The Metrological Department has already forecasted clear skies for most of the country in the coming one week with an expected mercury rise which would result in more consumption of electricity through fans and air conditioners. According to estimates, if there is a shortfall of 300-350MW, then around one-hour long load-shedding is carried out in urban areas.
It is expected that power demand will cross 12,400-12,500MW in the coming days thus the shortfall will cross 2,000MW and load-shedding will increase. PEPCO sources said that company seniors were depending upon gas supplies for running power plants; however, there was grim chance that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) gas supplies will improve before March 15. The menace of load-shedding will grip the country once again without improved gas supplies. SNGPL has announced that it will provide gas to power plants after March 15 as the company itself is facing around 900mmcfd gas shortfall.
According to SNGPL Managing Director Rasheed Lone the company on March 1st started providing gas to different power plants including Orient, Bhikki, Sapphire and Baloki. These power plants produce around 1,000MW but still PEPCO is facing electricity shortages. PEPCO Director General Muhammad Kahlid said load shedding would not increase as PEPCO would use gas to fulfil the power demand. He said PEPCO was not getting gas for its four power plants: Guddu, Kapco, Faisalabad and Kotri. He said power plants of Kapco, Faisalabad and Kotri used to produce 250MW, 210MW and 140MW and PEPCO was not getting gas for all the power plants.
“Gas supply for the Guddu power plant is 190mmcfd whereas SNGPL should give 290mmcfd for production of 600MW,” the DG said adding water shortages have also reduced hydro production. “We are facing around 1,000MW hydro production shortfall and as soon as water outflow from Mangla and Terbela increases, hydro power production would improve,” he concluded. According to PEPCO figures, the power shortfall has touched 1,505MW, production remains 10,203MW while demand has climbed to 11,708MW. PEPCO increased KESC power supplies and gave 720MW; earlier PEPCO was giving 690MW to KESC.
