The reason behind Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC)’s sudden move for increasing load shedding to over six hours during a day is not only the ‘short supply of gas from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at the generation plants’ – as cited by the power utility – but also that two independent power producers (IPPs) in the city have almost switched off their supply to the KESC, as they are unable to buy fuel due to payment delays from the KESC, well-placed sources told Pakistan Today.
Without any announcements, the KESC has increased the duration of load shedding to over six hours a day, citing lesser gas supply from SSGC at its power production plants. The sources said that a major blow to the already precarious electricity production situation was delivered when the two IPPs switched off power supply to the KESC’s grid, as they are unable to pay for fuel from the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) due to delays in payment of bills from the KESC. Collectively, the Gul Ahmed Energy Ltd and Tapal Energy Ltd – with power generating capacity of 125 megawatts each – supply about 230 megawatts to the KESC but have reduced supply to a minimum level, causing acute power shortage in the city.
As these IPPs pay the amount for purchasing fuel in advance to PSO, they have been unable to make payments in the last few days. According to official sources in KESC, the power company’s plants in Bin Qasim, SITE and Korangi areas are facing shutdowns and other technical problems due to the low gas pressure. “The disconnection of fuel supply to the IPPs from the PSO and the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP), which supplies almost 80 megawatts, remaining dysfunctional in the past month, has added to the power crisis.” The load shedding hours in some residential areas were increased and industries were also likely to face power outages if the current situation remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, SSGC officials claimed that due to the sudden hike in gas demand for domestic use after the change in weather, the supply to the KESC was reduced to 152 mmcfd from 190 mmcfd. They said that the KESC should maximise the use of furnace oil for producing electricity as there will be shortage of gas during the winter season.
