The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) is steadily increasing load shedding duration for the residents of the city, now taking it to seven hours for residential areas and eight hours for the industrial sector.
The KESC’s excuse for the increase in load shedding hours is the reduction in gas supply.
According to a KESC statement issued on Friday, the sudden reduction in gas supply from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) from 190 mmcfd to 110 mmcfd is causing the crisis. However, the SSGC claimed that the supply was reduced due to increased demand in the winter season.
Terming the cut in gas supply a “unilateral reduction”, the KESC maintained that the industrial zones could be kempt exempted from load shedding if it is increased in residential areas.
In a press release, the power utility claimed that the SSGC had curtailed the gas supply on the grounds of circular debt. It said that it would be able to pay Rs 24 billion to the SSGC after the federal and provincial governments pay their dues of Rs 55 billion to the power utility.
Requesting the authorities concerned to intervene, the KESC said that the power sector should be given top priority in terms of provision of low cost fuel to power generation plants since it directly affects the lives of the masses.
During the current year, the KESC has paid Rs 15.5 billion to the gas distribution company, and had time and again reiterated its offer to the gas provider to sign a gas sale agreement, based on the provision of the committed quota of 276 mmfcd of gas, to meet the electricity demands of the city. But the SSGC has not responded to the offer so far.
The KESC demanded that the agreement should be signed immediately to resolve the circular debt issue and restore KESC’s 276 mmfcd quota of gas.
