Many localities in the city plunged into darkness late Sunday night after fuel supply was suspended to two Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that provide around 250 megawatts to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), Pakistan Today has learnt.
Gul Ahmed Energy Limited and Tapal Energy Limited, each of which has a power generation capacity of 125MW, shut down on Sunday night after fuel supply from PSO was suspended to them over “a lack of money to purchase furnace oil,” sources said.
Sources within the oil marketing company, however, rejected the claims and said that supply had been temporarily suspended due to the strike of All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA). “PSO made arrangements later on to restore supply to Gul Ahmed and Tapal, and now all IPPs – including Genco in Jamshoro – are being supplied the required fuel,” sources claimed, adding that PSO is supplying around 2,000 MTs to IPPs and 3,000 MTs to Gencos on a daily basis.
It is worth mentioning here that the IPPs were making cash payments to PSO and fuel charges were being paid by KESC. Any delay in the payment of required amount by the IPPs or KESC results in suspension of fuel supply and subsequent reduction of around 250MW in the KESC’s system.
“One the power plants of the private companies are switched off, they take many hours to restart and supply electricity as per their capacity,” sources said.
While the sudden reduction in power supply plunged many parts of the city, including Gulistan-e-Jauhar, North Nazimabad, Malir, Korangi, Orangi, Soldier Bazaar, Saddar, and Keamari among others, into darkness on Sunday night, a KESC spokesperson claimed that the power breakdowns in some areas of the city last night was due to the tripping of extra high-tension line. The fault was later removed in a short period of time, he added.
