After some respite in power outages during the past two months – due to Ramazan and a spell of mild weather – the citizens are set to go back to the days when they had to spend most of the day without electricity.
The crises-stricken population of Karachi, already braving over 10 hours of load shedding throughout the day for the past one week, will be facing further power outages in the coming days as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Friday further reduced gas supply to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) citing “short supply from various gas fields”.
The gas supply to KESC was curtailed from 183mmcfd to 160mmcfd that, according to sources, would push the duration of load shedding to over 12 hours in a day thereby affecting all domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. Already crying over reduced gas supply at its power generation plants, the KESC, instead of switching over to the alternate fuel of furnace oil, is all set to increase the hours of power shutdowns, sources told Pakistan Today.
According to sources in the SSGC, the supply of gas to KESC was reduced to almost 160mmcfd as the gas utility is not being supplied adequate gas from the fields in Badin and Zamzama. After the development, the SSGC has also stopped gas supply to the Kotri Power Plant while reducing supply to power plants in Jamshoro in order to give the maximum supply of gas to the KESC. “The normal supply to KESC will be restored only after the supply from gas fields improves,” the sources added.
Meanwhile, strongly condemning the SSGC’s decision to further cut down gas supply to the power utility, the KESC in a statement issued on Friday stated that the move would cause hardships for the citizens of Karachi, who are already facing extensive load shedding. “The continuing short supply of gas has forced the shutdown of KESC’s gas-fired generation units, doubling load shedding duration. The mounting public anger and mob attacks at the power utility’s business and maintenance offices has become big problem for KESC, although the SSGC is responsible for the situation,” it was said in the statement.
The KESC feared that the public reaction might worsen with the fresh reduction of 20mmcfd in gas supply. “This crisis can be avoided and the SSGC better off financially and operationally, if it implements the Cabinet’s decision of June 30 on gas-load management and divert additional gas to the KESC for the benefit of people,” the KESC suggested. Contradicting the gas company’s claim of outstanding dues, the KESC stated that since the July 29 meeting at Governor’s House, the SSGC and Pakistan State Oil had been paid almost Rs 15 billion, including Rs 3.2 billion in past arrears.
The power company reiterated its offer of paying the double amount of cash every day for gas above 200mmcfd with half of the payment for its outstanding dues. The KESC suggested the SSGC to adopt a responsible attitude and demonstrate sensitivity towards the problems being faced by the citizens. “Being strategic partners in the service of the 20 million population and 40,000 industrial units, both the utilities need to cooperate and support each other instead of moving in opposite directions,” the statement said.
“In case of shortage in gas production, the SSGC should rather curtail supply to CNG stations, factories, fertiliser plants and private gas connections.” The power utility urged the SSGC to supply the 276mmcfd of gas at power generation plants as approved earlier to support uninterrupted power supply, trade, industries and port activities in the city.
Get ready for 12 hours of no power
