Energy crisis: Govt refuses to give timeframe to end outages
Govt prepares long- and short-term plans to end load-shedding.
Over the years, the inter-corporate debt in the energy chain has mounted to Rs500 billion and power transmission and distribution losses of state-owned companies, which stand at more than 25% in some cases, have made matters worse. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The government will curtail the duration of electricity outages in Ramazan and has chalked out short- and long-term plans to end crippling load-shedding across the country, says the water and power minister, but he has no specific timeframe.
Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government set deadlines to do away with acute power shortages, but miserably failed to meet its commitments. In the past many years, widespread and prolonged outages crippled life and business, triggering resentment among people and businessmen, sometimes leading to riots.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who took over as minister of water and power, told the media here on Saturday load-shedding would be equally shared by all consumers.
“We will try to ensure equal load-shedding in all sectors,” he said, adding measures would be taken to get rid of corruption in the power sector.
Chastising the PPP government, he said they had five years to improve conditions, but they wasted time and did nothing. The new government would try to overcome the power crisis in order to provide relief to the people, he declared.
Though he said short and long-term plans had been prepared to bridge the widening electricity demand-supply gap, he refused to set any deadline to eliminate load-shedding from the country.
“We will have to clear the mess caused over the last 14 years that has plagued the entire energy chain,” he remarked.
Over the years, the inter-corporate debt in the energy chain has mounted to a whopping Rs500 billion and cash-strapped power companies, which are owed billions of rupees, have been unable to run at full capacity. Power transmission and distribution losses of state-owned companies, which stand at more than 25% in some cases, have made matters worse.
Responding to a question, Asif said he could not give a deadline to end electricity outages, but the government would inform people about any unscheduled load-shedding.
Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman and some other officials held a meeting with the minister for water and power and briefed him about hydropower projects.
Asif expressed concern over transmission and distribution losses and sought a comprehensive report on the losses, receivables and payables of power distribution companies.
He also asked the power firms to ensure equitable load-shedding across the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2013.
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The government will curtail the duration of electricity outages in Ramazan and has chalked out short- and long-term plans to end crippling load-shedding across the country, says the water and power minister, but he has no specific timeframe.
Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government set deadlines to do away with acute power shortages, but miserably failed to meet its commitments. In the past many years, widespread and prolonged outages crippled life and business, triggering resentment among people and businessmen, sometimes leading to riots.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who took over as minister of water and power, told the media here on Saturday load-shedding would be equally shared by all consumers.
“We will try to ensure equal load-shedding in all sectors,” he said, adding measures would be taken to get rid of corruption in the power sector.
Chastising the PPP government, he said they had five years to improve conditions, but they wasted time and did nothing. The new government would try to overcome the power crisis in order to provide relief to the people, he declared.
Though he said short and long-term plans had been prepared to bridge the widening electricity demand-supply gap, he refused to set any deadline to eliminate load-shedding from the country.
“We will have to clear the mess caused over the last 14 years that has plagued the entire energy chain,” he remarked.
Over the years, the inter-corporate debt in the energy chain has mounted to a whopping Rs500 billion and cash-strapped power companies, which are owed billions of rupees, have been unable to run at full capacity. Power transmission and distribution losses of state-owned companies, which stand at more than 25% in some cases, have made matters worse.
Responding to a question, Asif said he could not give a deadline to end electricity outages, but the government would inform people about any unscheduled load-shedding.
Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chairman and some other officials held a meeting with the minister for water and power and briefed him about hydropower projects.
Asif expressed concern over transmission and distribution losses and sought a comprehensive report on the losses, receivables and payables of power distribution companies.
He also asked the power firms to ensure equitable load-shedding across the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2013.
Like Business on Facebook to stay informed and join in the conversation.