Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) Tabish Gouhar has said that 560 MW under construction units will start producing 350 MW power by next year. Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Gouhar said due to short supply of gas the company has incurred additional expense of Rs 25 billion on furnace oil to keep its units operating during January to December 2010.
He noted that KESC is getting only 70 MMCFD gas against its agreed supply of 250 MMCFD gas. Oil prices are about 2.5 times higher as compared to gas and still KESC is running its units on oil for the sake of general public. He said the efforts are underway to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to reduce its dependence on government for supply of gas and oil.
He said that around 50 percent of KESC units are closed due to short supply of gas. If we get required gas supply we will reduce load-shedding. Gouhar said that only three hours load-shedding is being carried out in the city and that too due to the shortage of funds to pay oil bills. However, the industrial areas are exempted from load-shedding, he added.
Gouhar announced to carry out a campaign against kunda-system particularly in the areas of Mehran Town adjacent to Korangi Industrial Area from January 1, 2011. Gouhar said that there are 2.3 million consumers of KESC and around 500,000 Kundas are being used in the city. Efforts are underway to remove the latter.
He advised the KCCI members to share the information of their future expansion plans such as setting up new units with the KESC. He agreed to form a committee comprising of representatives of KESC and KCCI to sort out problems being faced by business community.
Leader of businessmen group, Siraj Kasim Teli advised KESC chief to replace 250,000 old electricity meters with new ones. President KCCI, Saeed Shafiq said that the chamber has received many complaints regarding over-billing without meter reading. He advised KESC to set up an independent meter-testing laboratory to test meters in case of complaints.