Electricity crisis deepening

Implementation of conservation plan urged.

ISLAMABAD: The swelling circular debt, inefficient management and corruption has plunged the country into worst power crisis. Operations of most power plants have come to a halt, resulting in up to 20 hours of loadshedding. The crisis has hit hard most parts of Punjab as compared to other provinces, sparking massive protest in almost all major cities.

Sources in the Water and Power Ministry disclosed that the operations of Orient and Sapphire power plants have come to a grinding halt whereas two other major power plants — Hubco and Kot Addu — are producing nearly 10 per cent of their generation capacity.

It is learnt that Hubco power plant has been producing 125mw against its installed capacity of 2,500mw, while the situation is equally disturbing in Kot Addu power plant that is producing just 200mw against its installed capacity of 1,700mw.

Sources say reduction in water outflows from Tarbela and Mangla dams are another reason behind deepening power crisis in the country. They say that the shortfall has exceeded to 8,000mw whereas the total demand is 17,526mw, against production of 9,500mw.

Senior officials of the ministry said that the urban areas across Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have been witnessing eight to 10 hours of loadshedding, while Punjab’s urban areas are facing nearly 16 hours of power outages and rural areas 20 hours loadshedding.

In Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad and Poonch are facing 18 to 20 hours loadshedding, while Mirpur and its adjoining areas have been witnessing 12 to 14 hours power cuts.

Twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are also badly hit by persistent loadshedding, as the lights goes off for three consecutive hours even in the capital leaving citizens helpless in the scorching weather. The commercial activities have also suffered great blow due to the power crisis.

The ministry, the sources maintained, has sent a summary to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani saying the 2010 conservation plan had yielded positive results, therefore the government should extend this plan throughout the year.

The conservation plan includes two weekly holidays, closure of all markets and parks at 8pm, less use of streetlights.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2011.