Pepco dispels power crisis impression

A spokesman of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has rejected apprehensions that power crisis would be intensified as power generation of 1700MW was added in the system during the last one year and an additional power generation of 1000MW is in the pipeline.
The spokesman said that media reports of shortfall of electricity of over 4500MW are speculative, misleading and devoid of facts. Computation of shortfall of electricity is a complex exercise and cannot be made on the basis of hours of load shedding in various parts of the country, since power consumption is not uniform and depends on the consumer mix of the area. The correct demand, the spokesman said can only be assessed if there is a surplus generation which unfortunately is not the case, at present.
The shortfall tabulated by Pepco and released to the Press is based on historical data, he added. The spokesman wondered how the country was getting electricity if 24 thermal power stations were closed out of a total of 33 thermal power stations in the country.
The spokesman said that MD Pepco Rasul Khan Mahsud in his press conference on December 24, 2010 had apprised the media that country was likely to face shortfall in electricity due to reduction in hydel generation, which was affected due to canal closure. He also informed the public through the media that arrangement for supply of furnace oil have been firmed up with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to ensure maximum power generation during canal closure. The statement was made in the back drop of a high level meeting with representatives of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Water and Power and MD PSO among others.
Due to personal intervention of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani it was agreed that PSO would provide 23,000 tons of furnace oil against a requirement of 27,000 tons per day made by Ministry of Water and Power. Unfortunately, PSO did not fulfil its commitment and has been providing a maximum of 15,000 tons per day. As a case in point 11,000 tons of furnace oil was provided to power plants on January 13, 2010.
As regards outstanding dues of PSO towards PEPCO/IPPs, an amount of Rs 40 billion was paid to PSO up to January 6, 2011 on the explicit understanding that they would ensure supply of furnace oil to thermal power plants. The spokesman regretted that PSO has not been able to fulfil its commitment made at the highest level.
The Spokesman recalled that Jamshoro Power Station, Lakhra Power plant, Jagran and Malakand are closed due to damaged caused to these plants during recent floods. The spokesman further said that despite reduced furnace oil supply intense fog conditions, which led to tripping off of Liberty Power plant, Engro Power plant and Guddu power plant, PEPCO has been providing over 650 MW to Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and is meeting the entire demand of the industry. This is reflected by export figures which show an increase of over 20 percent compared to last year. The spokesman also denied reports appearing in the media that PEPCO is resorting to 15 hours load shedding in far flung areas as exaggerated.