- Says SSGC ordered to restore gas supply to KE, resolve dispute within 15 days
KARACHI: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday announced an end of Karachi’s prolonged power crisis, claiming to have resolved the dispute of circular debt between metropolis’ main energy supplier K-Electric (KE) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
Speaking to media after chairing a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) in which KE’s generation issues were discussed, the premier said that the supply of gas to KE will resume from Monday.
“Karachi will have electricity and water,” he assured further, adding that SSGC has been given 15 days to restore the dispute with KE and help restore the supply of electricity to Karachi.
The meeting, held at Governor House, included Power Minister Awais Leghari, Finance Adviser Miftah Ismail, State Power Minister Abid Sher Ali and representatives of KE and SSGC, among other officials.
“SSGC will provide gas to K-Electric,” he announced in the press conference. “It will provide as much gas to KE as is required by the power company.”
He also confirmed that the federal government has no plans of taking over the KE. “There would be no load-shedding in those areas where power theft is zero?” he replied to a question.
The PM had earlier reached Karachi to resolve electricity shortage issue which was faced by the residents of the metropolis for the past two weeks.
The city has been suffering from prolonged hours of load-shedding after the city’s main electricity supplier said it could not generate electricity in the required amount as the SSSGC had curtailed gas supply.
Since last month, consumers in Karachi have been at the receiving end of a bitter row between K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company, bearing close to 10 hours of load-shedding as demand for power surged in the wake of a heat wave in the country’s largest city.
K-Electric, the power distribution company in Karachi, claimed that 500MW power shortfall is being experienced due to inadequate gas supply.
Sui Southern Gas Company – on the other hand – said that the supply to the power distribution company has not been increased or decreased.
Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, North Karachi, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, SITE area, Garden, Lyari, Baldia and Orangi Town are the areas affected the most by load-shedding.