For Ramazan, govt plans shakeup in power sector

Plan to add over 2,000MW proposes closing industry for five days, CNG for four days.

ISLAMABAD:

The Cabinet Committee on Energy is working on a plan to induct 2,050 megawatts of additional power in the system during Ramazan by diverting power from the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to Punjab and increasing fuel and gas supply for power generation.

But there are other drastic moves on the anvil.

During a meeting of the committee on Thursday, petroleum ministry officials warned that industry would have to remain shut five days a week and CNG four days a week if the power sector receives 207 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas.

According to sources, the petroleum ministry claimed it could enhance gas from its existing output of 80 mmcfd to 120 mmcfd for the power sector.

Furthermore, it was agreed that all efforts would be made to ensure that load-shedding does not occur during Sehri, Iftar and Namaz-e-Taraweeh and other prayer timings during Ramazan.

The committee also decided to arrange two trains to supply oil to power plants to ensure the timely supply of furnace for power generation units across the country.

Through these trains, the furnace oil supply would be increased from 25,000 tonnes to 28,000 tonnes, and even more during Ramazan. “This step would help increase power generation by 250MW in the system,” sources said.

The committee also decided that 650MW of power being supplied to KESC would be diverted to Punjab and other parts outside KESC’s jurisdiction to ensure reduction in load-shedding.

“Under this plan, the government will try to provide gas and furnace oil to KESC to generate power from its own power generation plants,” an official said.

Furthermore, the committee was informed that, with the monsoon season approaching, hydel power plants of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) will be able to generate 1,000MW of additional power, which will be added in the national grid.

The cabinet body was also informed that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) had agreed to arrange the generation of 150 MW of power through enhanced supply of oil by the government during Ramazan.

“Additional power of 2,050MW would be added in the system on an emergency basis to provide relief to the general public during the month of Ramazan,” sources said, adding that the committee was informed that, at present, the circular debt had increased to Rs470 billion.

Its recovery from the provinces and private sector is required to run the system, the cabinet body noted and observed that, otherwise, oil supply would hamper the government’s efforts to generate additional power during the next few months.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2012.