'Island' mode: Power failure hits Punjab, K-P again
Officials say fire at Guddu thermal power station caused hours-long breakdown
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:
A massive power breakdown –the second in the space of a week – left most northern parts of the country without electricity for hours on Thursday.
Electricity supply was terminated to several parts of the country, including Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, after a fire erupted in the main transformer of Guddu thermal power station, according to the water and power ministry.
The entire generation system was forced into ‘island mode’, as Mangla and Tarbela power stations also stopped transmitting 1,000MW in the system.
The power ministry spokesman said a transformer problem at Guddu suspended the supply of 450MW. “This caused tripping of generation facilities in the north,” he said.
At 4:33pm Tarbela and Mangla were reconnected to the national grid, partly restoring electricity to Peshawar. At 4:35pm, the 220kV network was bought into the system. Hydel power supply was stabilised at 4:50pm.
A similar power breakdown had affected these areas on January 16 also. Though the ministry had ordered a probe into the affair its outcome is still awaited.
Insiders claim the Nepra has issued a show-cause notice to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) but has received no replies yet.
The regulator is expected to issue another show-cause notice on Friday (today).
The opposition members shouted slogans against Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali when the National Assembly building was left in darkness while the house was in session. The electricity resumed about a minute later.
In Lahore and its surrounding areas alone, about four million consumers of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) witnessed an hours-long power outage.
Electricity was partially restored around 8pm. Lesco officials could not confirm when electricity would be fully restored. All hospitals, Wapda house, airport, Punjab Assembly building along with other important offices and markets were hit by the power failure, triggering traffic jams on nearly all important arteries.
“This is the outcome of the efforts of the government, which claims to have controlled the energy crisis. Extreme weather has just started and the nation has faced two power failures within a week,” complained a citizen, Waseem Tariq.
Last Friday, the 500KVA Muzaffargarh-Multan transmission line had tripped due to a circuit breaker damage and intense fog, leaving most parts of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir without electricity.
The demand and supply gap has increased to a dangerous level due to low hydel power generation (900MW), said an NTDC official.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2016.
A massive power breakdown –the second in the space of a week – left most northern parts of the country without electricity for hours on Thursday.
Electricity supply was terminated to several parts of the country, including Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, after a fire erupted in the main transformer of Guddu thermal power station, according to the water and power ministry.
The entire generation system was forced into ‘island mode’, as Mangla and Tarbela power stations also stopped transmitting 1,000MW in the system.
The power ministry spokesman said a transformer problem at Guddu suspended the supply of 450MW. “This caused tripping of generation facilities in the north,” he said.
At 4:33pm Tarbela and Mangla were reconnected to the national grid, partly restoring electricity to Peshawar. At 4:35pm, the 220kV network was bought into the system. Hydel power supply was stabilised at 4:50pm.
A similar power breakdown had affected these areas on January 16 also. Though the ministry had ordered a probe into the affair its outcome is still awaited.
Insiders claim the Nepra has issued a show-cause notice to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) but has received no replies yet.
The regulator is expected to issue another show-cause notice on Friday (today).
The opposition members shouted slogans against Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali when the National Assembly building was left in darkness while the house was in session. The electricity resumed about a minute later.
In Lahore and its surrounding areas alone, about four million consumers of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) witnessed an hours-long power outage.
Electricity was partially restored around 8pm. Lesco officials could not confirm when electricity would be fully restored. All hospitals, Wapda house, airport, Punjab Assembly building along with other important offices and markets were hit by the power failure, triggering traffic jams on nearly all important arteries.
“This is the outcome of the efforts of the government, which claims to have controlled the energy crisis. Extreme weather has just started and the nation has faced two power failures within a week,” complained a citizen, Waseem Tariq.
Last Friday, the 500KVA Muzaffargarh-Multan transmission line had tripped due to a circuit breaker damage and intense fog, leaving most parts of Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir without electricity.
The demand and supply gap has increased to a dangerous level due to low hydel power generation (900MW), said an NTDC official.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2016.