Urban areas to face five hours, rural areas seven hours loadshedding

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Sunday approved the release of funds for enhanced power generation during Ramazan so that the masses would not have to face six-hour loadshedding during Sehri, Iftar and Traveeh prayers.
According to official sources, the Ministry of Water and Power will provide the maximum relief to consumers during the three times that has been calculated to be six hours during the holy month.

In urban areas, loadshedding of up to five hours and in rural areas of up to seven hours during the remaining 18 hours has been planned so that the people may not face difficulties while they are fasting.

The government has already approved maximum electricity generation during Ramazan and the same has been lined up by the ministry by taking all necessary steps. The prime minister has already accorded approval to provision of necessary funds for enhanced generation during these days.

The sources pointed out that better generation from hydel and thermal power plants and addition of new plants like the Uch II, Guddu, will reduce loadshedding during the month. Oil supplies have also been enhanced and their stocks are being built at different points.

Fuel stocks at various power plants combined with continued daily fuel supply have been planned to ensure smooth operation of power plants during the holy month.

The load management plan will be tightly monitored and the Ministry of Water and Power Secretary Ms Nargis Sethi and all distribution companies chiefs along with their officers at their headquarters will be available during Sehr and Iftar the whole month besides their daily routine timings.

They will remain on video link during these hours. Each Disco and the ministry has installed dedicated landlines and mobile numbers at their respective control centers so that in case of a fault, it can be rectified immediately.

At the distribution level, down the line duties of the staff have been assigned and necessary equipment and their replacements have been provided so that prompt action could be taken in case of technical faults, the sources added.

The sources pointed out that due to transmission system constraints, there exists a demand and supply gap. The ministry is making all out efforts to reduce loadshedding during Ramazan. The ministry has appealed to consumers to curtail consumption of electricity so that the maximum number of people could get power. The sources said the plan has also been put up to Prime Minister Nawaz, who has asked the ministry to adhere to its commitment to facilitate the people to the maximum.

Six hours a day loadshedding plan under threat

ISAMABAD: The Nawaz government has carved out a loadshedding plan of maximum six hours a day during Ramazan but it is most likely to fizzle out as receivables of the power sector have further surged to a whopping Rs520 billion.
On top of it, circular debt has risen to over Rs330 billion further multiplying the financial miseries of the government. The ministry has chalked out a plan under which in urban areas loadshedding duration will be up to five hours and in rural area seven hours so that the people may not face difficulties while they are fasting. But this plan seems a mission impossible keeping in view the fiscal constraints that have further swelled, a senior official confided to The News.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the official said, is demanding immediate release of Rs100 billion in the first week of July for smooth and uninterrupted fuel supply to thermal power houses for maximum electricity generation, but the Finance Ministry is going to release Rs40 billion on Monday out of which Secretary Water and Power is likely to give Rs15 billion to IPPs and Rs25 billion to PSO.

Out of Rs330 billion, IPPs want to be paid Rs115 billion, but they are being given just Rs15 billion. IPPs are currently generating 1700-1800 MW less electricity because of their financial constraints and with release of Rs15 billion, they are not going to increase their generation. The source said that some of the IPPs have already issued notices to Ministry of Water and Power seeking to invoke sovereign guarantees.

And the PSO that needs Rs100 billion will be paid Rs 25 billion which is just one quarter and will not enable the state owned oil marketing company to ensure incessant fuel supply of 22,000 tons per day which is mandatory for required increase in electricity generation.

The government plans to keep electricity generation at over 16,000 MW per day in the month of Ramazan. The PSO is facing high magnitude of financial constraints owing to which it is feared to default on Rs53 billion L/C in the month of July.

The official said that if Ministry of Water and Power wants the supply of 22000 tons of furnace oil per day for running all thermal power houses, then the PSO needs Rs50 billion more.So much so the receivables of PSO’s have skyrocketed to over Rs80 billion with payables of Rs95 billion.

It may not be out of place to mention that for the first time PSO defaulted on Rs26 billion L/C in the month of May this year owing to which it has lost its credibility before the international suppliers and banks. To a question, the official said that in the month of July, Rs70 billion L/C and in August Rs82 billion L/C will mature and need to be paid.

The PSO is currently providing 18,000-20,000 tones daily to power houses and the ministry wants the increase of fuel supply to 22000 tons per day in the months of Ramazan. The fuel stocks of power houses have depleted and left only for 4 days consumption. Now, the official said that PSO has been asked to build the fuel stock for 10 days consumption at least but again the question arises where is required liquidity PSO has?

The official also said PSO is no more in a position to provide 22,000 tones fuel a day on credit and the government will have to come up with Rs100 billion at least to off load some of the organisation’s liabilities.

The Ministry of Water and Power, however, said on Sunday the government had already approved maximum electricity generation during Ramazan and the same has been lined up by the ministry by taking all necessary steps.

The government has also approved necessary funds for enhanced generation during these days, a press release issued by the ministry said on Sunday.“Better generation from hydel, thermal power plants, addition of new plants like Uch II, Guddu will reduce load shedding during Ramazan. Oil supplies have also been enhanced and their stocks are being built at different points. Fuel stocks at various power plants combined with continued daily fuel supply has been planned to ensure smooth operation of the power plants during Ramzan,” the ministry said.

“To tightly monitor the load management plan, the Ministry of Water and Power under Secretary, MS. Nargis Sethi and all Distribution Companies Chief along with their officers at their headquarter will remain open during Sehar and Iftar in Ramzan, beside their daily routine times. They will remain on Video Link during these hours. Each DISCO and the Ministry has installed dedicated landline and mobile numbers at their respective controls centers so that in case any fault occurs it can be rectified on fast tract basis.”

The release said at distribution level, down the line duties of the staff have been assigned, necessary equipment and their replacements have been arranged so that prompt action can be taken in case of technical faults.

“Due to transmission system constraints, there exists demand and supply gap. The ministry is making all-out efforts to reduce the loadshedding during Ramazan. The consumers are also requested to curtail their usage of electricity so that maximum number of people can get power supply.”

Worst loadshedding spell as four Mangla Dam units break down

 

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The country on Sunday witnessed the worst spell of loadshedding after five units of the Mangla Dam broke down.
Loadshedding is likely to increase in various cities after the power shortfall in the country exceeded 4,500 megawatts (MW) from 3,500MW.According to sources, thermal power plants are not producing electricity according to their capacity despite sufficient fuel supply. They said the power distribution companies were providing low voltage to reduce the duration of loadshedding .

The sources further said that the duration of loadshedding could be increased to 16 hours.Several areas of the country are experiencing power outages of 12-15 hours daily while the situation in some cities of the Punjab is even worse.

Power generation in the country stands at 13,350 MW while demand is 16,900MW.Meanwhile, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali has claimed that the government is proactively executing diverse programmes to overcome the energy crisis.

Meanwhile, four people died of sunstroke and dozens others were hospitalised as the mercury rose to almost 50 degrees centigrade in several cities of the country on Sunday.According to reports, three persons, including two-year-old Arzoo of village 82/6-R, Ahsan, 10, and 32-year-old Muhammad Aslam hailing from village 67/5-R of Sahiwal, fell unconscious due to sunstrokes. They were shifted to hospitals where they expired.

Ahmed Deen, 65, of village 62/5-R died after exposure to the heatwave.Meanwhile, dozens of people affected by intense hot weather were shifted to different hospitals in Sahiwal where, according to medics, the condition of three was critical.

The citizens have expressed grave concern over the nearly 15 hours of loadshedding daily and demanded that the provincial government improve power supply.In Karachi, temperature was recorded at 40 degrees centigrade on Sunday morning. Rural Sindh is also suffering from the intense heat wave. Extremely high temperatures were recorded in various cities of the province including Jacobabad, Nawabshah, Larkana, and Sukkur. However, the temperature is likely to drop in the province from Monday (today).

In Punjab, the situation is no different as the heat wave is prevalent in most parts of the province. Extremely hot weather has gripped most of the plain areas of Punjab including, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur divisions.

Severely hot weather also grips many parts of Balochistan, including Turbat and Sibi division, whereas the use of cold drinks has increased due to the heat.The Met Office has predicted that the heatwave would continue to grip most plains areas of the country for the next few days.

An intense summer is also being witnessed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The citizens are visiting parks, canals, beaches and recreational spots to battle the weather whereas the demand for cold beverages has also increased.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has predicted rain with thunderstorm in some areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Malakand and Hazara Division.Jacobabad remained the hottest area during the last 24 hours where the temperature recorded was 50°C, while the maximum temperature recorded in other cities were: Dadu, Sukkur, Larkana, Moenjodaro, Sibi 49°C; Noorpur Thal, Rohri, Shaheed Benazirabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Padidan and Turbat 48°C.

Our correspondent from Lahore adds: With a high mercury level on Sunday, a majority of citizens thronged the city canal and other water spots to beat the heat.With loadshedding and severe heat, a large number of Lahorites went to the Lahore canal to beat the heat. All swimming pools and other water sports facilities were packed. Hours-long traffic jam was also witnessed at the canal road near Jallo Morr.

Met officials said the highest maximum temperature in the city was recorded as 46.3 C. They predicted very hot and mainly dry weather with chances of dust raising winds for the next 24 hours. They said a westerly wave lying over the extreme northern parts of the country had moved away eastwards while the seasonal low pressure lies over northern Balochistan.

Sale of plastic paddling pools has also increased in the city. A vendor sitting at the roadside in Faisal Town said since the morning he had sold over ten large and five small pools.

Protests grow as loadshedding intensifies

LAHORE: A heatwave has gripped the plains of the country in the last 24 hours. Protests and demonstrations were held in several cities of the country against long power cuts, which have disrupted normal life.

In Dadu, a maximum of 45C temperature was recorded while it remained 40C in Lahore and Multan, 39 in Faisalabad and 42C in Karachi.Meanwhile, the maximum temperature recorded in Mitthi and Chaur was 44C and Sibi, Rohri, Turbat and Lasbela 43C.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next two to three days. The Met office also predicted an increase in the intensity of heat.

On the other hand, the duration of loadshedding has been increased and several cities had to bear long loadshedding on Monday, which disturbed the routine life, especially the business community.

The unscheduled loadshedding has blown away the government’s claim that it has controlled loadshedding. With the advent of summer, the duration of loadshedding has been increased from six to 12 hours in several cities of the country, while in the countryside 8-16 hours loadshedding is being carried out.

Meanwhile, protests and demonstrations were held in several cities due to long loadshedding, which paralysed the normal life.The protesters, including traders, shopkeepers, students and others, condemned the long loadshedding and demanded the government to take steps to reduce the loadshedding.The demonstrations were held in Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other cities of Sindh.

Power outages intensify, loadshedding rises

LAHORE: The intensity of infamous outages or frequent power suspension has increased by at least one-third with rising demand of electricity amid a fairly mild weather.
The Lahore Electric Supply Company also officially increased duration of outages to eight hours a day from six hours, according to new load management schedule being implemented from this weekend. Presently demand in the Lesco areas, including districts of Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Okara stand at 3,100mw which saw a jump of about 600mw in just a few weeks.

With fading spring and approaching summer, outages tend to increase by at least two hours daily though people complain far greater cuts in power supply. Their complaints are justified especially when power demand and supply witnessed an abrupt imbalance, causing increase in frequency of outages. It happens due to shutdown of power generation plants or rising temperature in various parts of the country.

This fragile nature of power demand and supply is an ample proof that the electricity crisis in the country has yet to be managed prudently. The increasing unreliability in electricity supply is a key aspect that shows how whole power sector is being managed. Though overall duration of outages are less than the levels of last year during same days, smooth supply of power or announced outages is still a distant dream.

The main factor positively affecting electricity supply scenario in April 2014 if compared with corresponding period of last year, when incumbent government has yet to come into power, is a visible mild weather. Such a pleasant weather helped contained power demand below 12,000MW in the month of April this year in sheer contrast to last year’s demand that hovered around 14,000MW. The average demand of electricity in the whole month of April last year was 13,980MW while maximum demand observed in current month has been 12,500MW.

The power generation in present month and corresponding period of last year happened to be almost same-at around 9,500MW. The shortfall hence is on lower side only because of low demand of and partly because of a comparatively better management of generation capacity.

As per latest power demand and supply data released by National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), generation of electricity stood on Sunday at 10,100MW as compared to the demand of 12,200MW, showing shortfall of 2,100MW. The contribution of hydel generation still low as it was recorded at 2,820MW while public sector thermal generation registered at 1,130MW. The independent power producers (IPPs) were generating electricity to the tune of 6,150mw.