FC to guard power transmission lines
Several technical safety measures to be put in place.
FC to guard transmission lines to curb attacks by militants. PHOTO: PPI
ISLAMABAD:
After half a dozen attacks on electricity transmission lines in one month, the government has finally decided to deploy Frontier Constabulary (FC) forces to protect the national grid in high risk areas of Balochistan.
Baloch separatists have been attacking power infrastructure in Naseerabad district, mounting as many as six attacks in the last month, including one on January 24 which caused the entire nation’s transmission grid to trip, causing a nationwide blackout that affected nearly 80% of Pakistan.
Water and power ministry officials have met the government of Balochistan and the Pakistan Army to request them to make FC deployments in high risk areas, said officials familiar with the matter. The move comes under direct orders from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had directed the ministry to improve safety for the transmission grid after the January 24 blackout.
The measures to be implemented by the government in response to the crisis include safety measures as well as several technical proposals designed to make the grid more agile and responsive and less prone to a systemwide shutdown after a shock in a particular segment.
According to data made available to The Express Tribune, an inquiry committee put in place after the blackout identified several areas of the grid that were particularly prone to attack. The committee also recommended several other measures for the safety of the grid, including a frequency control mechanism, cross-tripping mechanisms, an effective overload control mechanism, system communication improvements, physical security of grid assets, system zoning to effectively isolate cascading effect, and effective loss of voltage control system.
An under frequency scheme has been implemented by state-owned power distribution companies on 291 feeders. However, officials say there are 25 feeders in the Lahore, Hyderabad and Peshawar Electric Supply Companies where these under frequency relays are yet to be implemented. When in place, the under frequency relays operate automatically, as they did on February 2, when the system frequency fell below 49.4 Hz without creating any major disturbance.
According to the study, a cross-tripping scheme for independent power producers is not needed at most plants, except Uch-I and Uch-II, since they all have double circuit facility.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.
After half a dozen attacks on electricity transmission lines in one month, the government has finally decided to deploy Frontier Constabulary (FC) forces to protect the national grid in high risk areas of Balochistan.
Baloch separatists have been attacking power infrastructure in Naseerabad district, mounting as many as six attacks in the last month, including one on January 24 which caused the entire nation’s transmission grid to trip, causing a nationwide blackout that affected nearly 80% of Pakistan.
Water and power ministry officials have met the government of Balochistan and the Pakistan Army to request them to make FC deployments in high risk areas, said officials familiar with the matter. The move comes under direct orders from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had directed the ministry to improve safety for the transmission grid after the January 24 blackout.
The measures to be implemented by the government in response to the crisis include safety measures as well as several technical proposals designed to make the grid more agile and responsive and less prone to a systemwide shutdown after a shock in a particular segment.
According to data made available to The Express Tribune, an inquiry committee put in place after the blackout identified several areas of the grid that were particularly prone to attack. The committee also recommended several other measures for the safety of the grid, including a frequency control mechanism, cross-tripping mechanisms, an effective overload control mechanism, system communication improvements, physical security of grid assets, system zoning to effectively isolate cascading effect, and effective loss of voltage control system.
An under frequency scheme has been implemented by state-owned power distribution companies on 291 feeders. However, officials say there are 25 feeders in the Lahore, Hyderabad and Peshawar Electric Supply Companies where these under frequency relays are yet to be implemented. When in place, the under frequency relays operate automatically, as they did on February 2, when the system frequency fell below 49.4 Hz without creating any major disturbance.
According to the study, a cross-tripping scheme for independent power producers is not needed at most plants, except Uch-I and Uch-II, since they all have double circuit facility.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.