Power generation plants to get more oil

Production drops after suspension of gas supply.


Our Correspondent September 28, 2012

ISLAMABAD: A secretary-level committee has decided to enhance oil supply to power plants, following suspension of gas supply from Qadirpur field, in an effort to increase electricity production and bridge the widening demand-supply gap.

In a meeting held at the Ministry of Water and Power here on Thursday, the Secretaries Committee on Energy reviewed the demand, supply and power generation in the country.

Water and Power Secretary Zafar Mehmood, Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Dr Waqar Masood and Joint Secretary (Power) Zergham Ishaq Khan attended the meeting.

The power shortfall widened as gas supply from Qadirpur gas field was stopped to four power plants – Rosche Power, Fauji Kabir Wala, Altern Power and Engro Power – because of technical fault at the field. As a result, power production dropped by 763 megawatts.

Power generation at four independent power plants (IPPs) near Lahore was also affected. These were Orient Power, Saif Power, Sapphire Power and Halmore Power, where production fell by 400 megawatts.

The meeting participants noted that about 1,100 megawatts had unexpectedly gone out of the system due to suspension of gas supply.

They resolved that all possible steps would be taken to restore supply from Qadirpur gas field at the earliest. Alternative resources would be utilised to reduce the demand-supply gap and steps would be taken to generate maximum power from oil-run plants, they said.

They decided that oil supply would be enhanced to both public and private sector power plants to curtail the shortfall. As per plan, the government will provide 5,600 tons of furnace oil to Kot Addu Power Company (Kapco), 5,800 tons to Muzaffargarh plant and 2,000 tons to Jamshoro power plant.

In addition to these, a total of 7,400 tons of oil will be supplied to AES Lalpir, Pak Gen, Saba Power, Sepcol, Atlas Power and Japan Power.

The officials expressed the hope that the increase in oil supply to the power plants would improve electricity production, cut load-shedding and give relief to the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.

COMMENTS (2)

Max | 11 years ago | Reply There is shortage of money, which is going God knows where. With sufficient money and planning there should be no shortages or fuel or power.
sgrr | 11 years ago | Reply

Since 2007, we were hearing from the government officials that there is a shortage of power plants and now shortage of fuel, which is true?

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