Power generation improves by 600MW

As oil and gas supply rises, more power added to national grid, says NTDCL

LAHORE: A spokesman for the National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) said on Thursday that more than 600 megawatts (MW) of power have been added to the national grid due to improvements in gas and oil supply to power plants in the past 24 hours.

The spokesman said that efforts have been made to boost thermal generation. Major thermal plants of both generating companies and independent power producers which had been idle – including Jamshoro, Kapco, Hubco, Liberty Power, Saif, Sapphire, Orient and Halmore – have been made productive after resumption in gas and fuel supply. More than 600MW has been added during the day, he informed.

The spokesman said that electricity demand had spiked due to hot weather, outstripped power generation and worsened the demand and supply gap. The average shortfall these days is about 5,000MW, he informed.

The spokesman added that hydel generation has diminished by more than 2,000MW as compared to previous year due to lower water inflow in the Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs. Inflow in both reservoirs was recorded at 200,000-250,000 cusecs in the past, which has now been reduced to 70,000-80,000 cusecs.

However, according to a Meteorological Department report, the melting process of glaciers has started and water inflow in reservoirs will improve in a couple of days, he hoped. Resultantly, generation capacity will be enhanced and will help in reducing the severity of the energy crisis, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2012.