KARACHI: Various parts of the metropolis were yet again subjected to prolonged and unannounced power outages due to what the KE said “low gas pressure” that adversely hit its generation capacity.
The areas that were most affected by power outages were Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Safoora Goth, North Nazimabad, Banaras, Lyari, Keamari and Soldier Bazaar.
A KE spokesman said the power utility had been facing an ongoing issue of gas pressure from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
While the quantity of the required gas remained available, decreased pressure led to reduced production of electricity. This gas pressure issue created a supply gap of 400 megawatts at a time when demand was high.
Pressure of the gas supplied to KE’s power generation plants was low due to which various gas-fired plants at Korangi and SITE were not able to operate at their optimum capacity despite remaining fully available. Generation would be increased as soon as gas supply at the desired pressure was available. KE’s furnace-oil-fired power plants were fully functional at this time.
The power utility is also ready to purchase the re-liquefied natural gas (RLNG) if it could be made available to it at the required gas pressure to meet the short-term requirements, and it is awaiting confirmation in this regard.
The KE has expressed its concerns that the curtailment of gas pressure may lead to an increase in load-shedding hours across all consumer segments, including the industrial zones.
The power utility requests the SSGC to put in all the required efforts to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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