LAHORE: Large swathes of the country observed a power breakdown on Friday, as the national grid system collapsed reportedly due to low frequency ratio.
The whole country, save Karachi and Hyderabad, was rendered without electricity at around 12:50 pm. Restoration work started immediately; however, most parts of the country are still without electricity.
According to Express News, hospitals in Lahore and Lahore airport suffered blackouts leading to flight delays while ICUs and emergencies in hospitals were being run on generators.
Earlier, it was reported that due to the immense load on the national grid, the frequency dropped from 50Mh to 47Mh, which had an immediate cascading effect on the system, resulting in a failure of the main Ghazi-Barotha hydel project.
Initially, the cause of the breakdown was termed “routine” but later it was discovered that it was owing to a technical fault either at Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) or at a National Transmission and Dispatch company.
The departments are uncertain from which end the fault has risen. Wapda said the power outage might be an issue of low frequency by National Power Control Center, which resulted in a technical failure at various power stations. However, the National Transmission and Dispatch company said that there was a fault in the powerhouse which disrupted the power system.
However, the first preference of Water and Power Ministry is to restore the national grid and later investigate whether Wapda, NTDC or NPCC is responsible for the fault.
Updates
Power begins to return in parts of Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gujranwala and Faisalabad.
The Ministry of Water and Power said priority grids are those providing electricity to hospitals and airports and will be the first to be restored. However, electricity in many residential areas of Lahore has also been restored.
Further, the ministry has said it will take some time before the restoration process will be complete.
.................................................................................................................................................
Ministry for Water and Power spokesperson said that reportedly faults occurred at Tarbela power house, which affects 500 KV transmission lines.
However, he said that the 220 KV transmission lines were not affected. 220 KV lines are linked with Independent Power Producers (IPP), where as 500KV is on hydel.]
“This resulted in a power outage from Tarbella to Guddu,” he said, adding, “The National grid has been restored successfully with a frequency of 50Mh and till 6PM, 6000 MW of electricity was restored, and we will restore 10,000Mw. We are restoring electricity from North to South and are hopeful that 10,000Mw electricity will be restored by 9:00pm.”
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Patriot dear patriot. If indian side had sparking, is it connected to pakistan grid ? Verify and then comment. If power was badly needed why was Rental Raja harassed. Perhaps he could have set up a river based power generating station near kasur.
@unbelievable: Meanwhile in other news Pakistan’s long awaiting LNG deal fell apart . Is it the deal with Qatar? . Cheers
Its MHz not Mh. I doubt anyone cares but blame it on the Dharnas rather than non-working isolations and trippers.
Blame it on the Dharnas!
@Patriot Jilani : Now that was funny.
Meanwhile in other news Pakistan's long awaiting LNG deal fell apart .... guess someone values the kickbacks more than a sustainable fuel supply for the power plants.
@JB: PML N is working with one hand tied due to the Dharnas and trouble caused by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri. Imran Khan is doing his best to make Pakistan unstable and discourage investment. These people are trying to disturb the development plans of PML N. Public understands that all problems of the last few decades isn't fixed in just one and half years.
An insider at WAPDA disclosed that the whole nation was put into Darkness on the specific instructions of Minster of Water and Power, The people of Pakistan can judge the motives for themselves also De. Babar Awan Made some startling Facts in this respect today
@Maria: Musharraf's 10 year era ended in 2008. Its what, 6-7 years ago. What happened in so called corrupt patriotic criminal people-friendly governments representing, rather fooling, people of Pakistan in the name of democracy?
Nawaz Sharif zindabad!! Congrats to the PMLN trolls for their smart decision!
Dear PM, it is funny for people to get small relief in power rate where power is not even available most of the time. People would pay more but 24 hours a day power availability. Rest of the world is now already into using solar power and LED lighting revolution while Pakistan is getting farther behind. Your 15 month old government could have easily placed 15 small solar farms of 100 to 200 megawatts as a start across Pakistan partnering with local and international private sectors. Pakistan could have initiated a 50% subsidy to businesses and homeowners who convert to using solar energy for at least 10 to 20% of their energy needs. Many countries are providing free solar power system to reduce load and cost on their grid. In USA we get 50% or more subsidy. You have now few good professionals in your team Musadik Malik but you need many more empowered individuals around you.
Well done Nawaz. As always, the darbaris are proud of you!!!
@Patriot Jilani: Rather than blame India, we should all be blaming the 10 year dictatorship of Musharraf when not one KW of electricity was added to the national grid. Many of our current problems from terrorism to instability are due to his disastrous policies. Finally an elected government is tackling the energy crisis but it will take time to realize all the energy plans signed by Nawaz Sharif and the Chinese.
As always loving the comments on Tribune.. you people never fail to amaze. Somehow every article gets comments drawing India in to the convo!
In Bahawalpur there is no light since around 12 pm and no update even as yet. ET plz update the current status Thanks.
@Patriot Jilani: My dear Jilani I think it is not fair to make vague allegations it is the duty of the WAPDA and other power companies to find the cause of grid failure the Northern grid of India failed twice due to over drawing and low frequency does it means that it was caused by Pakistan. Sparks on power lines can happen due to many reasons there is no use of finding conspiracy theory against each and every thing that happen in India or Pakistan. Stay blessed may the grid be restored at the earliest.
Where is our ranting power minister? I feel bad for power engineers struggling to keep the ailing system running to meet the power demands while the political poker continues.
My cousin living outside cantonment in Kasur, was driving on Khem Karan road. He saw sparks on india side in electricity wires and tower. India sabotage is definite he says. Border area and rangers say this is definite. UN must verify..