Power production improves as gas pipeline repaired

Damaged pipeline, disruption in oil supply had reduced generation on Sunday.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Water and Power Minister Dr Musadik Malik on Monday said the government had recovered the loss in electricity production after a sudden drop of 1,500 megawatts because of damage to a gas pipeline and decrease in oil supplies to power plants.

“The situation has now improved and 1,500MW has been added to the system. The inconvenience faced by the people is regretted,” the minister said in a press statement on the power situation.

He said the power production was stabilising as gas supply to the affected power plants had been restored and fuel supply enhanced to some other plants.

The power generation dropped on Sunday after acts of sabotage damaged the gas pipeline feeding the Uch Power Plant and Habibullah Coastal power plant. The national grid lost 1,300MW due to disruption in oil supply to Lalpir, Pakgen Power and some units of Hub Power Company and Kot Addu Power Company.

After the damage to the gas pipeline, Malik said, all resources were mobilised to restore the supply at the earliest. Technical experts were called in to repair the lines within shortest possible time and gas supply to the affected power plants was restored the same day.

On Monday, the system was generating 9,200MW. “The situation will improve further within two to three days,” he reassured.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2013.

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