The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on Tuesday asked the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to supply adequate gas pressure at the power utility’s generation plants to prevent the turbines from tripping.
According to a statement issued by the KESC, the 220-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant was shut down due to the drop in gas pressure, causing a significant decrease in electricity generation. The gas-turbine power stations at Korangi and SITE have also been producing less electricity than their capacity.
The statement added that sufficient gas pressure was required for carrying out the ‘heat-rate test’ that was to be witnessed by a visiting National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) team. But the efficiency test at Korangi gas-based power plant was delayed because of a severe drop in gas pressure.
“A five-member NEPRA team had arrived at Korangi gas turbine power station on Tuesday to witness the ‘heat-rate test’ as per the authority’s directives. However, the gas pressure supplied by the SSGC at the power generation unit was much below the required quantum needed to perform the test,” it was said in the statement.
The KESC engineers contacted the relevant SSGC personnel and requested an increase in gas pressure due to the urgency of the situation. But the gas utility did not respond positively and finally the test was postponed.
For the past several days, low gas pressure has forced the KESC’s gas-based power plants to generate lesser electricity than their capacity, resulting in a huge increase in load shedding across the city.
It was demanded that the government intervene in the matter and direct the SSGC to increase gas pressure and volume for providing relief to the 20 million people.
The KESC said that it is critical that the June 30 directives of Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) are implemented in letter and spirit as it was decided to observe two-day per week gas holiday in industries and CNG stations and supply the saved gas to the KESC.
The KESC appealed to the minister petroleum to direct the SSGC for implementing the ECC directives and supply 276mmcfd gas to KESC, as the citizens are suffering due to insufficient fuel supply to the power utility.