Four-hour power suspension announced

KESC announces power outages schedule for the industrial areas of the city, after months of smooth supply.

KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) announced on Monday power outages schedule for the industrial areas of the city, after months of smooth supply, owing to reduced gas supplies from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

Four hours of power cuts, from 12 to 2 pm and two hours in the night were announced. Electricity is supplied to industrial areas on a priority basis since their line losses, compared to residential areas, are low.

While chairmen of various industrial area associations were quick to denounce the fresh move, they were appreciative of the utility’s efforts to control outages in industrial areas in the past few months.

“I believe the (management of KESC) will restore smooth power supply as soon as the gas supply from the SSGC is restored,” said Razzak Hashim Paracha, Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry.

He added that sometimes 40 per cent of the industrial zone faced power outages as their feeders were linked with adjacent residential areas.
Sadiq Muhammad, Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry, said power cuts occurred on Tuesday from 12 noon to 2 pm.
The SSGC has implemented its load management plan due to curtailed supplies from three gas fields because of floods and technical issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2010.