Power shortfall stands at 3,200MW: ministry

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of water and power has said that electricity shortfall across the country was 3,200 megawatts on Thursday, with generation at 12,412MW and the demand at 15,619MW. It said that the Pakistan Electric Power Company was providing 710MW to the KESC.

However, the ministry’s data was based on midnight consumption which is limited to domestic use and little commercial activities.

The peak-hour shortfall has risen to 4,500 megawatts, resulting in loadshedding of up to 12 hours in rural areas and up to six and eight hours in urban areas of central and southern Punjab.

The ministry attributed the shortfall to hot weather and increased use of air-conditioners and other electric appliances.

According to sources in Pepco, the peak load is from 8pm to 11pm. It is because of excessive commercial activities after sunset. Besides domestic consumption, streetlights and lighting of essential installations like airports also jack up the shortfall. Most of the power theft also takes place during this period.

Pepco managing director Tahir Basharat Cheema said the company had launched a campaign against power theft. It had disconnected thousands of illegal connections and lodged FIRs against 22,000 power thieves over the past two and a half months.

An amount of Rs3 billion had been recovered from defaulters and thieves during this period, he added.

Ministry officials said that loadshedding would significantly come down after complete rehabilitation of the Mangla power house and change in weather next week.

Pepco has announced that the Mangla power station with an installed capacity of 1100MW will be fully operational on July 25.

According to officials of National Power Control Centre, the country is getting around 5,000MW from IPPs and about 3,000MW is being produced by generation companies of Wapda.

Hydel production is around 4,000MW, including 1,200MW from Ghazi Barotha and over 300MW from smaller hydro power units. Small thermal power plants contribute 450MW to the national grid. link.....