Power crisis: Load-shedding for Punjab’s CNG sector to increase

Burden may be shifted to other sectors during Ramazan to aid water and power ministry.

ISLAMABAD:

While load-shedding in the CNG sector in Punjab will be increased by one more day in a bid to divert gas to power plants and minimise rolling power cuts during the month of Ramazan, the textile industry has been exempted from gas supply cuts.

The CNG sector currently receives gas two days a week while captive power plants and the industrial sector receive gas for eight hours a day. Sources told The Express Tribune that the decision to increase load-shedding in the CNG sector was taken in a meeting held in Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s chamber on June 21 to discuss plans for power supply during Ramazan. The meeting was attended by Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif and Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other officials.



During the previous government’s tenure, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiated a probe into gas supply to inefficient captive power plants at the cost of more efficient power producers, shut down as gas supply was curtailed.

However, no action was taken against the textile industry. Captive power plants currently have only 18 to 20 per cent efficiency as compared with plants with 54 per cent efficiency rates.

Sources said it was also decided during the meeting that 50 million cubic feet per day gas (mmcfd) currently supplied to Faisalabad power station be diverted to more efficient power plants.



Additonally, Water and Power Secretary Nargis Sethi said the prime minister wished to minimise load-shedding during Ramazan and in order to comply with this order, an additional 140 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas and 22,000 tonnes furnace oil per day is required.

A petroleum ministry official said the water and power ministry is currently receiving a record supply of 1,240 mmcfd gas for power generation and in order to maintain this supply, the petroleum ministry has shifted the burden of load management to other sectors.

In addition, the annual maintenance of all producers has been postponed which may result in serious technical issues. While the domestic and commercial sectors receive regular supply of gas, there are low pressure problems at some places.

If additional gas is to be supplied to the power sector, then supplies of another sector must be curtailed, officials at the meeting were told, but the government must ensure full pressure of gas in domestic and commercial sectors during sehri and iftar.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2014.