A Ministry of Power spokesperson claimed on Twitter that the power breakdown, that left the national grid with a 4,000 MegaWatt shortfall, is now under control.
A massive power breakdown leaving the national grid with a 4,000 MegaWatt shortfall due to which there is a blackout in most areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday morning.
According to the spokesperson, Zafar Yab Khan, power has now been restored in various parts of the province, however, according to latest reports the ground reality is completely different.
Zafar Yab Khan tweeted on his personal account saying, “Control room of National Power Control Center at the moment. MD NTDC, GM NPCC both fully engaged with the team. Secretary Power Division himself sitting in the control room.”
Control room of National Power Control Center at the moment. MD NTDC, GM NPCC both fully engaged with team. Secretary Power Division himself sitting in the control room. pic.twitter.com/4DJ8FxW6Wz
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
He further claimed that Multan, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura are also in the process of being restored.
Multan restored. Process in Faisalabad to restore it
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
After Faisalabad the enrgization of Shekupura is being carried .
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
He then claimed that the federal capital Islamabad was also 80 per cent restored, while the reports suggest otherwise.
Islamabad 80% restored
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
And then he claimed that parts of Lahore have been energised. However, no reports of energy restoration have come out from the provincial capital as yet.
Energizing Lahore. Parts of Lahore energized
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
He further tweeted, ” We’re facing difficulty in Mangla, Tarbella and G.Barotha, and the Islamabad Pindi areas are being energised via generation from the centre and the south. Lahore areas are being energised.”
Update: we facing difficulty in Mangla, Tarbella and G.Barotha and the islamabd Pindi areas are being energies via generation from center and south . Upto Lahore areas are being energised
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
He then tweeted, “Power Division has constituted enquiry committee headed by Power Division Additional Secretary Waseem Mukhtar and three system experts. TORs are why the system failed, however, effective efforts were made to restore system and recommendation to avoid such situation in future.”
Power Division has constituted enquiry committee headed by Additional Secretary Power Division Mr. Waseem Mukhtar and three system experts, TORs are why the system failed, Howe effective efforts were made to restore system and recommdation to avoid such situation in future
— Zafar Yab Khan (@zafaryabkhan) May 16, 2018
According to reports, the breakdown occurred when the Tarbela, Mangla and Ghazi Barotha power plants tripped, apparently due to technical faults in the main transmission line.
It was reported by the power plant officials that the sudden blackout had affected various cities that included Lahore, Multan and Bahawalpur. Moreover, in KP, it had affected cities like Peshawar, Swat and Lakki Marwat.
While addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday, Power Minister Awais Leghari said that the situation is under control in Islamabad. However, it will take a couple of hours before the power system is fully restored.
Furthermore, Power Division secretary along with the required teams’ had reached the site to fix the fault. And the secretary is present at the National Power Control Centre to monitor the situation closely. Although, no proper timeline has been given as to when the repairs are expected to finish from his end.
Furthermore, a spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Commission said that the tripping of lines from the Tarbela plant caused all four Chashma Nuclear Power Plants to trip as well.
According to reports, 60-70 percent of electricity was restored in the capital by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). However, following this restoration, Mangla was energised and suspended again.
The official said that Ghazi Barotha had been synchronised and connected to the national grid.