A total of 88 circuits in the networks of Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan power supplying companies were affected due to tripping of high transmission lines. PHOTO: FILE
The minister instructed the NTDC to take all necessary steps for the restoration of tripped transmission lines to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
Khan gave the directives at the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) on Thursday while monitoring and supervising the restoration of transmission lines in central and southern Punjab, which were hit by a dense fog in early hours of the morning.
A day ago, the dense fog in Punjab resulted in tripping of four power plants, triggering an almost four-hour-long blackout in the provincial capital of Lahore.
According to sources, Balloki, Nishat Power, Nishat Chunian and Kohinoor Electric plants tripped early on Wednesday morning at around 8:30 am. Around 1,750 megawatts of generation capacity remained out of the national grid. Apart from the tripping of power plants, the fog also caused tripping in Kot Lakhpat’s 220-kilovolt main transmission line and 220kv Sarfaraz Nagar transmission line.
The power minister during his visit to the NPCC praised the NTDC ground teams for extensive efforts for restoring the high transmission lines considering the extreme weather conditions. He told the NTDC managing director to ensure that all safety measures were taken for the teams while the restoration work was under way.
The NTDC MD and NPCC general manager briefed the minister and power secretary that due to the dense fog, 500kv and 220kv transmission lines in the NTDC network tripped, bringing down power generation at Guddu and Balloki power plants besides failure of power supply to 220kv grid stations at Ghazi Road and Sarfaraz Nagar, Bahawalpur, Vehari and Lal Sohanra.
The loss of power generation led to load management of 249MW in the power distribution companies’ 132kv network. Six circuits of 500kv and 22 circuits of 220kv were affected by the tripping.
A total of 88 circuits of 132kv in the networks of Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan power supplying companies were affected as a result of tripping of high transmission lines. Cumulatively, 2,977MW could not reach the grid due to the tripping.
The minister was apprised that due to the reduction in power generation, temporary load management of 3,011MW was undertaken in the areas covered by the distribution companies.
With the improvement in power generation, the allocation was being gradually increased and the temporary load management would be reduced, they said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2019.
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