Electricity shortfall soars to 3200 MW: NTDC

LAHORE: The demand and supply gap of power has further risen, as the overall electricity shortfall climbed to 3200 mega watts leading to an increased number of loadshedding hours across the country.

According to a claim of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) officials, the power distributing companies were undertaking only scheduled loadshedding.

The NTDC spokesman pointed out that the total demand for electricity has soared to 16300 MW against the supply of 13100 MW. As a result, loadshedding up to 6-8 hours is being done.

The power generation from hydel sources remains 4700 MW, thermal 1500 MW, IPPs 6890 MW, wind energy 18 MW.

Shortfall reaches 3,000 MW with increased

LAHORE/SIALKOT: Although it was Sunday, people across the country faced the worst power outages as electricity shortfall reached 3,000 MW.

The announced and unannounced loadshedding forced citizens to register their protest in various towns and cities, including Lahore, as they set ablaze bills and chanted anti-government slogans.

According to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), the power generation on Sunday stood at 12,500MW while the demand was recorded at 15,500MW. This shortfall made life miserable for the people in the scorching sun.

Citizens during the protests against the power crisis demanded the government to end loadshedding at the earliest as it had paralysed the routine life with temperatures expected to rise further.

In the urban centres of central Punjab, the loadshedding hours are 10, with 14 in the rural areas. Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab have been experiencing 14 to 18 hours of outages. With indoor temperatures becoming unbearable in the Punjab, many people opted to visit recreational spots and canals to get some relief.

In Sialkot, the city area and other parts of the district, including Daska, Pasrur and Sambrial, the power supply was suspended for eight to 10 hours. The densely-populated and commercial areas of the city – including Chowk Allama Iqbal, Karimpura, Factory Area, Mianapura, Khadimpur Road, Rangpura, Nihal Chand Street, Prem Nagar, Defence Road, Kashmir Road and Muzaffarpura – witnessed two hours of loadshedding after every two hours during the day. The loadshedding in the night was carried out after every alternate hour.

The same reports were received from the nearby towns of Hadiana, Chavinda, Kharota Syedan, Kotli Loharan and other areas. Besides other problems, the power outages also caused severe water shortages in many areas.

Power shortfall will be made up in about 2/3 years: PM

DERA MURAD JAMALI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced that government would ensure provision of natural gas to each and every city of Balochistan within three years. He added that the government would overcome the energy crisis in three years.

The Prime Minister directed Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to personally monitor this project and ensure its completion on time.

The Prime Minister made the announcement after inaugurating the 404 megawatt Uch II Power Plant at Dera Murad Jamali that will contribute an aggregate of 990 MW gross electricity to the national grid. The Uch II Power Plant the Independent Power Plant (IPP) has been constructed by GDF SUEZ a French company presently working in 70 countries.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration ceremony here the Prime Minister said Balochistan was neglected in the past but the democratic government would take necessary steps to mitigate the sense of deprivation of people of the province. He said his government had planned a big development programme for Balochistan and its people.

He announced installation of two separate power lines from Uch II Power Plant to Naseerabad and Sibbi Divisions of Balochistan. The Prime Minister said the power project was significant mainly for two reasons firstly it would be based on an indigenous gas by substituting expensive liquid fuel thus saving foreign exchange and secondly it has been set up in Balochistan.

He commended the contribution of GDF Suez for successful commissioning of the project which he said was a valuable addition to the national grid. He said GDF Suez had been a reliable energy partner for Pakistan for many years and was also playing its role in the socio economic development of the province. He invited the French company to undertake more investment in Pakistan's energy projects.

Nawaz Sharif said the electricity shortfall in the system had a very negative impact on the development of the country. He said new power projects were being constructed using conventional and renewable energy resources and technologies. He mentioned that the government's steps in this regard including clearing of Rs 500 billion of circular debt and initiating the work on Neelum Jhelum project and Nandi Pur project that will add 959 MW and 425 MW to the national grid respectively.

Besides development of Thar Coal Project Jhimpir project in Sindh and solar projects in Punjab are also prominent steps to overcome power shortage he said.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the project would contribute to overcoming the energy shortage and would invite further foreign investment in Balochistan. He said the project will not only help in curtailing the present power shortages but also provide cheap electricity to the consumers and save precious foreign exchange in oil imports.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resource Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister of State Abid Sher Ali were also present.