Power demand touches 17,000 MW this summer: DG PEPCO

ISLAMABAD: Director General of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Ejaz Rafique Qureshi said Monday that currently there is 17,000 MW demanded across the country while last year this was 13,000 to 14,000 MW.

He said that during the last one year 3,000 MW demand increased due to which loadshedding problems are facing the public.

The DG, PEPCO said the government would soon overcome to the loadshedding in the country because 572 MW would be added to the new power plants in near future.

Besides that, four major projects would be completed soon including Dhepur 425 MW, Gaddo 750 MW, UAD gifted plant 320 MW and one in Faisalabad due to these projects 2000 MW power would come in the system.

During the last three years 3000 MW have been included in the system while 1000 MW added during the last 3 to 4 months and hoped that load management would be reduced in the month of July.

He said that to fill the gap between demand and supply the load management has been made in the cities 3 to 4 hours and in the rural areas 8 to 10 hours to meet the shortfall.

The World Bank has allocated US $ 15.6 million to Pakistan to overcome the power crisis in the country,he said adding that Tarbela extension project is underway to produced the 1350 MW and its generation capacity would be increased from 3478 MW to 4828 MW.

The DG said that Thar coal projects has been launched to overcome the power crisis adding that 27,000 MW would be produced from the public sector.

He said that to overcome the line losses ADP's and USA IP are cooperating with the PEPCO adding that 35000 theft cases have been registered in the different police stations.

Last year 700 theft cases were registered against the WAPDA employees and its employees paying their bills regularly.

Ejaz Rafique said that recoverable amount is Rs. 300 billion including in private sector Rs.139 billion and Rs.158 from the government sector and the autonomous bodies and other Rs.1.8 billion remaining respectively.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011