Electrifying crisis: Sindh power crisis expected to aggravate

Four month dues of one billion rupees yet to be paid to IPPs

KARACHI:

As the power crisis during the heat reaches its peak, the grave attitude of the federal government towards Sindh’s population could possibly further aggravate the power load shedding crisis. The impact would be most felt in areas that often touch temperatures of 40 to 50 degree Celsius during the summer month.

“Now the people, mostly in Hyderabad and Sukkur region, would bear a load shedding crisis of up to 22 hours daily in the extreme heat,” commented energy consultant, Khursheed Jamali.

While talking to The Express Tribune he explained that the federal government had introduced a policy to establish captive power plants (independent power producers) in 2009, in which large number of investors had put their money due to low tariffs.

He said these IPPs were also providing electricity of up to 180 megawatts to different regions in Sindh, including Hyderabad and Sukkur.



He said that the federal government later revised the tariff rates and due to this conflict between IPPs and the federal government, the former have decided to disconnect the 180 megawatt electricity to different cities of Sindh.

“Since the conflict began, the federal government has also not paid one billion rupees dues of these IPPs for the last four months” he added.

“The electricity crisis may escalate during the upcoming month of Ramzan, if the federal government does not respond positively to payment of dues” he said.

On the other hand, reliable source within the Sindh government say it has taken serious notice in this regard.

“The provincial energy experts are contacting the federal government for clearance of the dues of these IPPs” the source said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government could also not provide the 17 billion rupees to Sindh government under NFC award. This shortage of one billion rupees would be the last straw to break the camel’s back.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2015.