Gas supply suspension worsen power crisis in Balochistan

QUETTA: Habibullah Coastal Power House Quetta has completely stopped power production after the suspension of natural gas supply to it on Saturday. In a handout issued by the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) here, after the closure of 25-MW TPS Sheikh Manda Quetta and 120-MW private Habibullah Coastal Power House, the electricity crises has been worsen in the province, power shortage by 800 MW has been reported against total demand of 1210 MW.

"Now 42 grid stations of Balochistan are receiving 400 MW of electricity," the spokesman to QESCO said. The spokesman maintained that six to eight-hour load shedding at Quetta, 14-hour at district headquarters and 18-hour in rural areas were being carried out on daily basis due to the acute shortage of electricity supply to the grid stations.    He, however, said that duration of power load management would be decreased soon after the Habibullah Coastal Power House and TPS Sheikh Manda start their production.