Pakistan suffers big power outage after second grid failure in three months

[Hermoine Green]

Load shedding was substantially low in the previous tenure of PMLN before PTI came to power. Over the last 4 years it has steadily increased.

Sorry to say, i am from KPK so i can talk about KPK. There was minimum load shedding in IK's era, and literally zero load shedding during Ramzan. But since the PDM has step their foot, conditions have been worst.

 

[Hermoine Green]

Why did load shedding return in recent years?

18 power plants are closed because of wiring issues, 7 lack gas and 9 out of cash. All of these can generate up to 8,000 megawatt. Expected to become operational again around Eid.

-Report by Power Division.

PTI followers would like us to think that the power shortage is caused by the government that has been in power for 4 days. When it was Imran Khan's time they would say "He can't clear the mess of the previous government in 3 years" yet they expect Shahbaz to clear the mess of Imran's government in 3 days.

I mean, I'm glad we have such high standards from Shehbaz and expect so much from him. This shows that people believe more in Shehbaz's administration, governance and competence as they did in Imran's which is what we have been saying since day one.

View attachment 115654

Yes, and electricity was running on Prayers since last 3.5 years Good luck with that.

 

[Bewal Express]

Sorry to say, i am from KPK so i can talk about KPK. There was minimum load shedding in IK's era, and literally zero load shedding during Ramzan. But since the PDM has step their foot, conditions have been worst.

I spoke to guy on the phone from Bewal and he said they took electricity during Taraweeh since the crooks took over

 

[Hermoine Green]

I spoke to guy on the phone from Bewal and he said they took electricity during Taraweeh since the crooks took over

Cant deny, facing same situations in my locality too. Even we face un-announced load shedding during Suhoor time too.

And it started right after the next day of PDM take over. Don't know, how conditions can get worst in ONE day while previous 3.5 years were in peace.

 

[Bewal Express]

Cant deny, facing same situations in my locality too. Even we face un-announced load shedding during Suhoor time too.

And it started right after the next day of PDM take over. Don't know, how conditions can get worst in ONE day while previous 3.5 years were in peace.

They are looking to scam money as quickly as they can.

 

[MenInG]

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday imposed a fine of Rs50 million on the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) for its "inability to restore power supply in a timely manner" in the wake of the "total power system collapse" that occurred in January 2021.

According to the regulator, it took approximately 20 hours to restore the system.

In a press release, Nepra said that it had taken serious notice of the incident and constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the matter in light of its laws, rules and regulations.

"The committee conducted the said inquiry and presented a detailed report to the authority on the basis of which the authority initiated legal proceedings against the NTDC," the statement said.

It further stated that an explanation was issued to the company on April 1, 2021, followed by a show cause notice on August 25, 2021.

Moreover, an opportunity of hearing was also granted to the NTDC on January 12, 2022, however, the NTDC failed to provide any satisfactory response and was found guilty of violating the relevant provisions of the grid code. "Therefore, the authority has imposed a fine of Rs50 million on the NTDC," the statement said.

The regulator also pointed out that it had initiated legal proceedings against the power plants concerned for their "lapses, deficiencies and failure" in relation to the incident. It said this was currently "under process and being dealt separately".

In January 2021, a major power breakdown had plunged the entire country, including major urban centres such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Multan, into darkness for up to 22 hours a little before midnight. At the time, then energy minister Omar Ayub Khan had attributed the breakdown to a technical fault at the Guddu power station.

A month later, an independent inquiry committee appointed by Nepra found serious violations of safety and security protocols and severe deficiencies in the country’s power system operations starting from generation facilities both in public and private sector to the entire transmission network.

The 24-page inquiry report also observed that “black start operations at most of the power plants were non-existent or non-functional which should have restored the power supply quite quickly in the country”.

On the other hand, a NTDC inquiry committee in March 2021 identified governance, ownership problems and poor chain of command for countrywide power breakdown, but absolved its own team of any responsibility.

In its report, the four-member inquiry committee quoted letters written by some of its members for improvement of the electricity generation system and its safety protocols and equipment to prove that the NTDC had been highlighting the system’s weaknesses.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday allowed ex-Wapda Distribution Companies (XWDISCOs) an increase of Rs2.87 per unit in the power tariff and a hike of Rs1.38 per unit for the consumers of K-Electric on account of the fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for the months of March and February this year respectively.

Nepra, after incorporating several adjustments, reviewed and assessed an increase of Rs2.8680 per unit in the applicable tariff for XWDISCOs on account of variations in the fuel charges for the month of March, it said in a statement issued after a public hearing was held.

In its petition, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) had sought an increase of Rs3.1573 per unit on account of the FCA for March, having a cumulative impact of over Rs32 billion.

Nepra conducted the hearing on the petition and reserved its ruling. According to the decision, the power regulator approved Rs.2.8 per unit increase in the electricity rate on account of the FCA to burden the consumers with around Rs29 billion.

The increase in tariff of March shall be charged in the billing month of May this year from all consumer categories of XWDiscos, except lifeline ones.

The power tariff hike would remain applicable only for a month and not be applicable to K-Electric consumers.

In a petition submitted to Nepra on the behalf of the XWDISCOs, the CPPA-G had stated that the reference fuel cost stood at Rs6.2295 per unit. However, the actual fuel cost went up to Rs9.3869 per unit.

Therefore, the CPPA-G had requested an increase of Rs3.1574 per unit to recover the amount from the consumers.

In its decision, Nepra observed that the fuel cost of certain power plants had not been claimed by the CPPA-G as per the authority’s approved rates.

Accordingly, it added, it had been adjusted downward in line with the authority’s approved rates for the month of March.

As per the data submitted by the CPPA-G, XWDISCOs purchased 13.22 GWh from the captive power plants during March 2022. According to the details provided by the CPPA-G, the actual fuel cost of this energy was worked out to be Rs.63.88 million.

The power regulator also announced its decision on the tariff increase for the K-Electric consumers on account of the FCA for February this year.

It said the K-Electric management had requested an increase of Rs3.452 per unit on account of FCA for February to burden the consumers with Rs3.95 billion.

In its decision, however, the regulator approved a power tariff hike of Rs1.3863 per unit with an accumulative financial impact of Rs1.58 billion.

The regulator allowed the K-Electric to charge the hike in tariff in the monthly bill of May this year. The increase will be applicable to all the consumer categories, except the lifeline ones.
Nepra had conducted the public hearing on April 4.

During the hearing, Nepra had noted that the power purchase agreement was signed between the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDCL) and the K-Electric on January 26, 2010 for five years for the sale and purchase of 650MW on basket rates.

Subsequently, on November 8, 2012, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) made a decision relating to the modalities for withdrawal of electric power from the NTDCL. The move had curtailed 300MW from the NTDCL to the K-Electric.

The regulator had noted that the K-Electric continued to draw 1,100MW electricity from the national grid without signing a new agreement with NTDCL.

The K-Electric had claimed an re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) rate of Rs2,479.61 per mmbtu to generate electricity from its own power plants.

However, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) in its decision on March 11, 2022 revised the RLNG rate for the month of February 2022 at $13.9048 per mmbtu, which was worked out to be Rs2,449.05 per mmbtu in local currency.

As a result of the revision in the prices, the power regulator had deducted Rs41.61 million and directed the K-Electric to provide revised RLNG bills.

The regulator had also pointed out that certain efficient power plants were not fully utilised. Instead, electricity was generated from inefficient plants.

It noted that the K-Electric had not utilised the Korangi Gas Engine Power Station and Site Gas Engine Power Station to their full capacities.

The utility had also drawn less electricity from the NTDCL during certain hours.

The K-Electric had informed the regulator that it was in the process of resolving the lower gas pressure issue with the Sui Southern Gas Company.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday approved increasing the electricity prices by 57 paisa per unit for July-September quarter of the current fiscal year – a move that would put an additional burden of Rs14.3 billion on the consumers.

The power sector regulator’s determination will take effect after the federal government issues a notification.

The authority has given the nod to a positive amount of Rs14.3 billion on account of quarterly adjustment pertaining to the 1st quarter of FY 2021-22 for XWDiscos [power distribution companies that were formerly affiliated with the Water and Power Development Authority], according to a statement.

It added that the allowed quarterly adjustment had an impact of around 57 paisas per unit on uniform basis on all consumers except for lifeline and Increment industrial sales eligible for Industrial Support Package.

Under the amended Nepra law, the federal government will have a certain time to notify the quarterly adjustment.

In case it neither notifies the quarterly increase in prices, nor does it make a representation to the government, the increase will automatically take effect after 15 days of the determination.

Nerpa said the 57 paisas per unit increase in prices would be charged from the consumers from June. It added that the Rs14.3 billion amount would be recovered within a three months period from the date of the issuance of the notification.

The Nepra law had been amended on the condition of the International Monetary Fund aimed at ending the government’s discretion in notifying the tariff increase. The law now empowers Nepra to automatically increase the monthly and quarterly tariff adjustments, in case the government decides to delay the orders.

Addressing a news conference, Power Minister Khurram Dastgir said the consumers might face a surge in electricity prices in the shorter term. The consumers are already subject to heavy hikes in their bills on account of monthly fuel adjustments.

The cost of electricity generation has significantly gone up because of the previous government’s ill-timed moves and lack of proper planning for ensuring smooth supplies of LNG.

The country is again facing power outages, this time because of lack of availability of fuel as well as high losses owing to low recoveries and increased losses.

Dastgir said that he assumed the ministry’s charge on April 26 and on that day the nation was witnessing 8-12 hours of power cuts.

He announced that PM Shehbaz Sharif had called for drafting a new power policy to aid energy generation of the country for the next 10 years.

According to him, solar and wind power were cost competitive while power production from hydel sources was also conducive for Pakistan. “Coal is no longer competitive for Pakistan as its price has risen by 3-4 folds in the past five months,” Dastgir said.

He added that 7,104 MW power generating capacity was lying idle and criticised the previous PTI government for its inaction. He claimed that 5,800 MW generation capacity was not being utilised because fuel was not procured by the former leadership in time.

Moreover, 1,300 MW of generation capacity was lying idle due to maintenance and restoration work, the power minister added.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

As people desperately await an end to load-shedding amid the sweltering summer heat, the electricity shortfall has increased to 5,053 megawatts (MW), sources informed The Express Tribune on Thursday.

Pakistan is currently producing 21,447MW against demand of over 26,500MW. Power generation from hydropower sources amounted to 4,858MW while governmental thermal plants were producing 1,10MW.

About 1,260MW was being generated from solar power plants while electricity production from wind was zero. Bogas-powered plants were generating 153MW while power generation from nuclear fuel was 2,251MW. Private sector power plants were the major producers of electricity, producing 11,695MW.

Pakistan’s total power generation capacity was 36,039MW while the shortfall had led to frequent load-shedding, with power cuts of 10-12 hours recorded in different parts of the country.

According to an Islamabad Electric Supply Company spokesperson, the demand for electricity in their region was 2,147MW, and as soon as the supply normalised, uninterrupted electricity would resume in the areas. The spokesperson also apologised for inconvenience during the “temporary crisis”.

On Thursday, as the shortfall continued to increase, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir and Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik held a news conference to address the issue.

Dastgir said that Pakistan was experiencing more load-shedding than expected. He attributed the current situation to the delay in procurement of coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and furnace oil by the previous government.

He said that the country was suffering the consequences of the “tsunami of mismanagement”.

He also said that the incumbent government ensured good recovery and zero load-shedding on low-deficit feeders from May 1 to May 12.

He mentioned that some power plants had to be shut down due to 300 per cent increase in the price of coal.
The federal minister also alleged that former prime minister Imran Khan’s government did not make payments to independent power producers (IPPs).

He also said that the government had started preparations for July and August and the Petroleum Division signed agreements for four gas cargoes. He claimed that the fuel crisis had been solved.

Commenting on the shortfall, he said that it had increased due to the closure of Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant, which had to been closed for repairs.

Highlighting that they had to control electricity prices, Dastgir said, “The deficit is rising due to price controls. Our government wants to move towards balance and continuity.

Malik told the media that in November, 400 units of gas were required, and an additional 500 units were required in January, February and March, but half of it was purchased.

“We have brought all the LNG we need,” he said.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Load-shedding persists as shortfall increases
Insufficient fuel supply causes low power generation as attempts to restore it fail

LAHORE:
The country’s strained power system continues to fall short of meeting the leap in demand as the mercury rises skyward.

According to the sources, the insufficient fuel supply has been taking a heavy toll on power generation whereas the attempts to restore it have not yielded enough electricity to meet the demands. The electricity shortfall has increased to 6,085 megawatts against the demand of over 26,500 megawatts while the total production stood at 20,415 megawatts, sources shared and added that as a result, daily blackouts on Saturday plunged consumers in many parts of the country into darkness for nearly eight hours.

The situation was particularly worse in localities with high losses.

About 487 megawatts were being generated from wind power plants while electricity production from solar plants was zero. Bogas-powered plants were generating 170 megawatts while power generation from nuclear fuel was 2,283 megawatts.

Private sector power plants were the major producers of electricity, producing 10,615 megawatts.

Pakistan’s total power generation capacity was 36,039MW while the shortfall had led to frequent load-shedding.

It is pertinent to mention that on Thursday, as the shortfall continued to increase, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir said that Pakistan was experiencing more load-shedding than expected. He attributed the current situation to the delay in procurement of coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and furnace oil by the previous government.

He said that the country was suffering the consequences of the “tsunami of mismanagement”.

He mentioned that some power plants had to be shut down due to a 300 per cent increase in the price of coal.

The federal minister also alleged that former prime minister Imran Khan’s government did not make payments to independent power producers (IPPs).

He also said that the government had started preparations for July and August and the Petroleum Division signed agreements for four gas cargoes. He claimed that the fuel crisis had been solved.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357797/load-shedding-persists-as-shortfall-increases

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: An increase in electricity tariff would follow fuel price adjustment through withdrawal of subsidies while protecting the poor under principles agreed to with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, he said Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail had very skillfully finalised conditions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in recent negotiations. He added that while borrowed money could not be doled out to the rich, a mechanism should be in place to ensure that the poor are protected in the process of withdrawal of subsidies.

He said Pakistan has committed to ending global subsidies that are equally available to the rich and the poor. “This is the high-level agreement under which we are taking all these decisions,” he said, adding the electricity prices would also be adjusted on the same lines so that the poor remain protected.

But the challenge, he said, was that four out of six families had an income range of Rs25,000-30,000 per month because of poor economic policies and mismanagement coupled with external factors over the past four years. He said the conditions had been on how to bring the process of the IMF programme back on track. He expected that a contract with the IMF would be finalised shortly and the country would move towards stability.

He said the government’s decision to increase petroleum prices had revived market confidence, and the rupee gained Rs2 against the dollar and the stock market recovered.

Mr Malik said former prime minister Imran Khan reduced prices and froze them for four months when it became clear to him that he was on the way out, but there was nothing on the government record that suggested the decision was taken by the Economic Coordination Committee, the cabinet, or with the written order of the prime minister or any sanction given by the ministry of finance.

The announcement, nevertheless, had a monthly impact of about Rs120bn to Rs360bn of direct subsidy for a limited period, but the overall financial impact worked out at Rs700-800bn in three to four months if taxes were also included. This is higher than the Rs520bn full year expenditure on running of the civil administration. He said the new government took time to address this challenge because the leadership wanted a foolproof mechanism that protected the poor from price hikes.

Talking about PTI’s claims of 30pc cheaper oil and LNG import deals with Russia, the petroleum minister said there was no agreement or memorandum of understanding on record which could have proved such claims. However, the former energy minister had written a letter to the Russian minister showing interest in purchasing oil and gas from Russia without any response from the other side.

Pakistan’s ambassador in Moscow approached the Russian energy ministry, but did not get a response either on cheaper oil or gas, said Mr Malik. He further claimed the Russians showed inclination for discussion on infrastructure projects. As a follow-up, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs took up the matter again with the Russian envoy in Islamabad, who advised to repeat a similar letter, which was done by the Pakistani side but without any response so far.

He said PTI was also spreading disinformation about purported cheaper Indian oil prices following the Russian deal. The fact, on the other hand, was that even after the price increase, Pakistan’s petrol price stood at Rs180 per litre against India’s Rs250 per litre. Similarly, the diesel price in India is now Rs234 per litre, up from Rs174 per litre, implying that even the most recent prices in Pakistan are significantly lower than those in India. Secondly, India had only reduced central excise duty on petrol and diesel prices while the GST — its counterpart tax in Pakistan — was already zero, he added.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: A substantial hike in the base price of electricity of up to Rs7-7.50 per unit is expected to be implemented on July 1, 2022 to ensure the restoration of the IMF programme, according to senior official sources, The News reported Monday.

"The current average base tariff is Rs16.64 per unit, which is likely to increase by Rs7 to Rs7.50 per unit to Rs24.14 per unit".

Federal Minister for Power Division Khurram Dastgir Khan said he couldn't say how much the predicted rise in the base rate would be because the exercise to decide on it is still underway and senior officials from the ministry and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) were involved. After the rebasing process is complete, a new base tariff will be decided and implemented on July 1, 2022, following the announcement of the budget.

According to official sources, the IMF has been asking for a raise in the electricity base rate for 2022-23 for a long time, as new power plants and transmission and distribution projects have been added to the national grid.

Some of the new projects, including an 878-km-long 660kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, two nuclear power plants (k-2 and k-3), China Hub power plant, Engro power plant, and RLNG-based power plant at Trimmu, Jhang, Punjab, and others, are now connected to the national grid.

The base tariff is the average cost of energy, which includes the costs of power plants, transmission and distribution, as well as fuel and operations and maintenance.

It also includes power plant capacity payments, which now range between Rs800 and Rs850 billion per year and are paid by customers in the tariff, with capacity payments expected to rise to Rs1.4 trillion per year in the next budgetary year 2022-23. "As a result of new project additions to the system, rebasing of power tariffs is unavoidable, with tariffs rising by up to Rs7.50 per unit.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: The power crisis in Pakistan has deepened as the electricity shortfall widened to over 7,000 megawatts, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to power division sources, the demand in the country for electricity has surged to 27,200 megawatts amid the sweltering weather conditions. The duration of unannounced loadshedding nationwide also remained increased to 14 hours.

“There is a nationwide power production of 20,000MW, resulting in a shortfall of 7200 MW,” they added

 

[Bewal Express]

LAHORE: The power crisis in Pakistan has deepened as the electricity shortfall widened to over 7,000 megawatts, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to power division sources, the demand in the country for electricity has surged to 27,200 megawatts amid the sweltering weather conditions. The duration of unannounced loadshedding nationwide also remained increased to 14 hours.

“There is a nationwide power production of 20,000MW, resulting in a shortfall of 7200 MW,” they added

NS and these crooks went for the easy option of fossil fuel power stations, instead of building dams. Today the price of oil and gas has risen dramatically and we cant afford it. Their own badniyaati and incompetence is costing them dearly and the more importantly the PK public.

 

[MenInG]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested taking advantage of "365 days of sunshine" and operate markets in the daytime as opposed to the convention of "opening markets at 1pm and closing them at 1am", as policymakers seek solutions to conserve energy amid an acute crisis.

"Our markets open at 1pm and close at 1am. This [practice] is found nowhere in the world," Asif tweeted late Saturday night. "God has given our country 365 days of sunshine and yet we turn on the lights in the dark to do business."

If markets set the right business hours then — with Karachi excluded — 3,500MW of electricity can be saved. "Tough circumstances call for tough decisions," he added.

His suggestion came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a marathon five-hour meeting to come up with an "emergency plan" aimed at reducing power cuts that have roiled the country amid reported shortfalls of 7,000MW.

In the meeting yesterday, PM Shehbaz dire*cted relevant authorities to come up with a plan to curtail loadshedding within 24 hours.

The meeting was called to discuss the issue of loadshedding in the country and problems being faced by citizens in general and the business community in particular. Federal ministers and high level officials were in attendance.

The meeting took place amid reports about hours-long loadshedding in various parts of the country, leaving the people to suffer in high temperatures.

“The premier has sought an emergency plan from the authorities concerned within 24 hours regarding reduction in electricity loadshedding,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurang*zeb said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Dawn

 

[Vatta]

Desperate stuff from the hapless, corrupt thieves.

Didn't the absconding, "dying" PMLN (London) promise to end load shedding withing 6 months when he was last elected?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested taking advantage of "365 days of sunshine" and operate markets in the daytime as opposed to the convention of "opening markets at 1pm and closing them at 1am", as policymakers seek solutions to conserve energy amid an acute crisis.

"Our markets open at 1pm and close at 1am. This [practice] is found nowhere in the world," Asif tweeted late Saturday night. "God has given our country 365 days of sunshine and yet we turn on the lights in the dark to do business."

If markets set the right business hours then — with Karachi excluded — 3,500MW of electricity can be saved. "Tough circumstances call for tough decisions," he added.

His suggestion came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a marathon five-hour meeting to come up with an "emergency plan" aimed at reducing power cuts that have roiled the country amid reported shortfalls of 7,000MW.

In the meeting yesterday, PM Shehbaz dire*cted relevant authorities to come up with a plan to curtail loadshedding within 24 hours.

The meeting was called to discuss the issue of loadshedding in the country and problems being faced by citizens in general and the business community in particular. Federal ministers and high level officials were in attendance.

The meeting took place amid reports about hours-long loadshedding in various parts of the country, leaving the people to suffer in high temperatures.

“The premier has sought an emergency plan from the authorities concerned within 24 hours regarding reduction in electricity loadshedding,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurang*zeb said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Dawn

Credit where due.
I 100% agree with it.

This nahoosat has to end. People are lazy.
Except for pharmacies (that should only sell medicine and other necessities) and hospitals, medical clinics should remain open after dark.

All other businesses must open early and shut at dusk. General public up at 1 am in the morning is ridiculous and hinders productivity.

 

[Kianig89]

Hamm so markets will open at 8am when everybody is in their office or at job and close at 7pm when people look to chill out interesting has its own pros and cons

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Hamm so markets will open at 8am when everybody is in their office or at job and close at 7pm when people look to chill out interesting has its own pros and cons

Work hours are not as long as it is the western countries.

Many get off at 2 PM, and hardly anyone goes back to work after Jumma

Plus there are A LLLLOOOTTTT of “farigh” people in almost every household who can shop for those in their families who couldn’t get off from work.

We also have too many lafanga type farigh people standing at every other street corner who shamelessly stare at passing by females from head to toe.

They need to be curbed and put to work. Force them to find work, pay income tax and be a productive part of the society.
Worse, they can start delivery type services on bicycles.
Hire them as janitors to clean up the trash and junk from our streets.

These nikamma people have a lot of man power that needs to be tapped on and collect taxes.

 

[Kianig89]

Work hours are not as long as it is the western countries.

Many get off at 2 PM, and hardly anyone goes back to work after Jumma

Plus there are A LLLLOOOTTTT of “farigh” people in almost every household who can shop for those in their families who couldn’t get off from work.

We also have too many lafanga type farigh people standing at every other street corner who shamelessly stare at passing by females from head to toe.

They need to be curbed and put to work. Force them to find work, pay income tax and be a productive part of the society.
Worse, they can start delivery type services on bicycles.
Hire them as janitors to clean up the trash and junk from our streets.

These nikamma people have a lot of man power that needs to be tapped on and collect taxes.

Ego found in abundance in Pakistan every Tom Dick & Harry

 

[transparent opacity]

End to load shedding not possible: Khurram

LAHORE/GUJRANWALA: Federal Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir has said complete elimination of load shedding is not possible but its intensity will reduce in the coming weeks. Talking to the media, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would decide about early closure of markets.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to face a serious electricity crisis as loadshedding has intensified even after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of it yesterday and ordered the authorities concerned to limit the duration of suspensions not more than two hours a day.

According to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), the country faces a shortfall of over 7,300MW, while power demand has increased to 27,300MW against supplies of 20,000MW.

All provinces of the country, including Punjab, continue to face unannounced power outages, which have reached up to 8 to 14 hours daily. Frequent tripping is also badly affecting home appliances. Power distribution companies (DISCOs) have blamed the Energy Ministry for the outages.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/963797-end-to-loadshedding-not-possible-khurram

 

[Firebat]

PM Shehbaz approves plan to use ex-Fata gas amid energy crunch

ISLAMABAD:
Amid an energy crunch faced by Pakistanis in light of increased energy consumption during hot weather, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday approved a plan to provide natural gas discovered in the tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to the public.

The decision was taken to provide relief to the public and to mitigate the energy shortage faced by Pakistan in wake of a record increase in global energy prices.

During a meeting with the heads of Fauji Foundation and Marri Petroleum, the premier was briefed about gas reserves discovered in North Waziristan and Bannu, K-P.

In Bannu alone, one trillion cubic feet of gas reserves were discovered recently.

The PM said that the people of the area where the gas reserves were found should avail the benefits of their resources and sought suggestions for economic, educational, social welfare and healthcare projects in the area.

“What will the residents of the areas where gas has been discovered get,” the premier said as he asked for a plan from the officials concerned in this regard.

The premier was also briefed about the overall situation in the gas sector and its demand and supply.

Last week, PM Shehbaz had issued stern warnings to the officials of the energy ministry to rein in the crisis without delay, telling them that failure to do so would earn them dismissal from their service.

According to the insiders, Shehbaz had lashed out at the officials concerned while directing them to reduce load-shedding duration to two hours maximum under any circumstances. "Loadshedding for more than two hours is not acceptable. Do whatever,” he had issued directives.

“Out of the question. Not acceptable,” the irate premier had asserted. “I don’t want any explanation. People want to get rid of load-shedding and I will not compromise on public issues,” he was quoted as saying in response to the explanations given by the officials.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2360431/pm-shehbaz-approves-plan-to-use-ex-fata-gas-amid-energy-crunch

 

[MenInG]

The Sindh government ordered on Friday to close down all markets, shops, and shopping malls by 9pm, whereas marriage halls are to be closed by 10:30pm and hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes by 11pm.

In a statement, the provincial government stated that the measures were being taken in light of Pakistan’s energy crisis.

The crisis, it said, had prompted the Sindh government to invoke sections of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Act, 2010 and issue an order to reduce operational hours of shops and restaurants.

The notification issued stated that the energy shortfall in the country requires immediate control. “The urgent need to take the effective measures for the conservation of energy in Sindh though a two-pronged approach, i.e. to utilize the daylight hours for business activities and minimize the possible adverse impact of the business activities,” read the notification.

However, the order to suspend business hours does not place limitations on pharmacies, hospitals, petrol stations, and bakeries.

The notification stipulated that the orders will be enforced with immediate effect from 5pm on Friday (today) till next month.

The Sindh government has issued the notice to relevant authorities including police stations, and authorised them to register complaints against perpetrators under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

On June 8, as part of the government’s ongoing measures to nip the burgeoning power crisis in the bud, the National Economic Council (NEC) agreed in principle on the closure of markets by 8:30pm in all provinces.

The plan to down the shutters came for consideration a day after the federal cabinet contemplated the move to maximise the use of daylight as part of the government’s austerity measures to deal with the energy crunch.

The government is scrambling to balance its books amid a fierce squeeze on energy and shrinking room for spending, with intense heat showing no signs of abating. With power shortfall whizzing skywards, the PML-N-led government is imposing energy austerity measures to conserve power.

Express Tribune

 

[Colorblind Genius]

The Sindh government ordered on Friday to close down all markets, shops, and shopping malls by 9pm, whereas marriage halls are to be closed by 10:30pm and hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes by 11pm.

In a statement, the provincial government stated that the measures were being taken in light of Pakistan’s energy crisis.

The crisis, it said, had prompted the Sindh government to invoke sections of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Act, 2010 and issue an order to reduce operational hours of shops and restaurants.

The notification issued stated that the energy shortfall in the country requires immediate control. “The urgent need to take the effective measures for the conservation of energy in Sindh though a two-pronged approach, i.e. to utilize the daylight hours for business activities and minimize the possible adverse impact of the business activities,” read the notification.

However, the order to suspend business hours does not place limitations on pharmacies, hospitals, petrol stations, and bakeries.

The notification stipulated that the orders will be enforced with immediate effect from 5pm on Friday (today) till next month.

The Sindh government has issued the notice to relevant authorities including police stations, and authorised them to register complaints against perpetrators under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

On June 8, as part of the government’s ongoing measures to nip the burgeoning power crisis in the bud, the National Economic Council (NEC) agreed in principle on the closure of markets by 8:30pm in all provinces.

The plan to down the shutters came for consideration a day after the federal cabinet contemplated the move to maximise the use of daylight as part of the government’s austerity measures to deal with the energy crunch.

The government is scrambling to balance its books amid a fierce squeeze on energy and shrinking room for spending, with intense heat showing no signs of abating. With power shortfall whizzing skywards, the PML-N-led government is imposing energy austerity measures to conserve power.

Express Tribune

Coffee shops and Cafes at 11:00 PM?
If it was up to me, I would have them closed at 6:00 PM
The idea is to curb the caffeine in take after 6 PM. So that this nahoosat of staying up late and getting up late should be reduced.

Folks in Pakistan need to start sleeping on time and start getting up early. THE ENTIRE NATION !!

The benefits of this routine are far greater than getting up an 11:00 am and start the business at 1:00 PM.

 

[MenInG]

The Punjab government on Saturday said it was limiting the operational hours of markets, shopping malls, wedding halls and restaurants as part of an energy conservation drive.

The decision was taken after Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz consulted the province's business community.

A post-meeting handout from the Directorate of General Public Relations said that from here on markets, bazaars and business centers will be closed by 9pm; restaurants by 11:30pm and marriage halls by 10pm.

The restrictions will not apply to medical stores, while there will be relaxation for the business community on Saturdays.

CM Hamza Shehbaz said that policy on timings for Eidul Azha shopping would be reviewed together with the business community.

The handout stated that the business community's representatives in the meeting fully supported and appreciated the government's measures to cope with the energy crisis.

The Punjab government's decision comes a day after the Sindh government promulgated similar measures.

A notification issued by Sindh's Home Secretary Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo had stated that the measures were required due to prevalent power outages and loadshedding so the shortfall between the demand and supply of electricity could be reduced.

It noted that the federal cabinet had decided on June 7 to take effective measures to reduce loadshedding by conserving energy and prevent and minimise the impacts of anticipated energy shortfall in the country through a national strategy.

Therefore, the notification said, it was "necessary and expedient to enforce certain restrictions in order to control increasing shortfall between the energy generation and its utilisation, so that this prevalent emergency of the energy shortfall may be controlled, which otherwise could have long term and multi-sectoral impacts on the lives of the general public of the Sindh province".

There have been reports of hours-long loadshedding across the country, leaving the people to suffer in high temperatures.

The incumbent government has blamed its predecessor PTI for the energy shortfall.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had on June 4 sought an 'emergency plan' to end loadshedding.

DAWN

 

[Bewal Express]

The Punjab government on Saturday said it was limiting the operational hours of markets, shopping malls, wedding halls and restaurants as part of an energy conservation drive.

The decision was taken after Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz consulted the province's business community.

A post-meeting handout from the Directorate of General Public Relations said that from here on markets, bazaars and business centers will be closed by 9pm; restaurants by 11:30pm and marriage halls by 10pm.

The restrictions will not apply to medical stores, while there will be relaxation for the business community on Saturdays.

CM Hamza Shehbaz said that policy on timings for Eidul Azha shopping would be reviewed together with the business community.

The handout stated that the business community's representatives in the meeting fully supported and appreciated the government's measures to cope with the energy crisis.

The Punjab government's decision comes a day after the Sindh government promulgated similar measures.

A notification issued by Sindh's Home Secretary Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo had stated that the measures were required due to prevalent power outages and loadshedding so the shortfall between the demand and supply of electricity could be reduced.

It noted that the federal cabinet had decided on June 7 to take effective measures to reduce loadshedding by conserving energy and prevent and minimise the impacts of anticipated energy shortfall in the country through a national strategy.

Therefore, the notification said, it was "necessary and expedient to enforce certain restrictions in order to control increasing shortfall between the energy generation and its utilisation, so that this prevalent emergency of the energy shortfall may be controlled, which otherwise could have long term and multi-sectoral impacts on the lives of the general public of the Sindh province".

There have been reports of hours-long loadshedding across the country, leaving the people to suffer in high temperatures.

The incumbent government has blamed its predecessor PTI for the energy shortfall.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had on June 4 sought an 'emergency plan' to end loadshedding.

DAWN

So the plants they gave permission to, and in return they got commissions for, need oil and gas to run, are now not producing electricity, although they were under IK 2 months ago. What the hell is going on?

 

[gazza619]

Coffee shops and Cafes at 11:00 PM?
If it was up to me, I would have them closed at 6:00 PM
The idea is to curb the caffeine in take after 6 PM. So that this nahoosat of staying up late and getting up late should be reduced.

Folks in Pakistan need to start sleeping on time and start getting up early. THE ENTIRE NATION !!

The benefits of this routine are far greater than getting up an 11:00 am and start the business at 1:00 PM.

Change in habits is required yes, but there are many cities (like Karachi) where the temperatures are soaring at 40 degrees C plus during the day throughout most of the year. Its like an Oven when you go out in that polluted heavy congested environment.

 

[Vatta]

Didn't Nawaz Thief, promise to sort out the electricity in 6 months if he was elected the last time?

 

[MenInG]

Following the imposition of time restrictions aimed at conserving energy and reducing power outages, the Punjab government has decided to impose a lockdown on all kinds of business activities – except for emergency and essential services – in Lahore on Sundays.

“Sunday will be observed as a closed day for all commercial markets, plazas, shops including those of wholesale and retail, shopping malls, bakeries, confectionaries, offices, store rooms, godowns, warehouses, etc. in Lahore,” read a notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Lahore Omer Sher Chatha.

According to the notification, the business and trade community will be informed about the latest decision.

The local administration has issued the notification after seeking clarification from the Punjab Labour and Human Resource Department.

Reacting to the development, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran General Secretary Abdul Razaq Babbar said that the business community has no reservation about the closure on Sundays.

He, however, indicated that such restrictions would encourage corruption as police officials received bribes from traders and shopkeepers and allowed them to open their businesses during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Another trader, Muhammad Asif, pointed out that small shops in the neighbourhoods and streets remain operational even on a Sunday. “We achieve better sales during Saturday and Sunday as most offices are closed and people head to the shops,” he added.

A day earlier, the Lahore deputy commissioner issued a notification imposing a restriction to close all markets, shopping malls and business centres by 9pm, except for Saturdays.

Medical stores and pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories, milk shops, petrol pumps, motorway service areas and tire repair shops are exempted from the aforesaid restriction.

The district administration also constituted special teams comprising Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) and other agencies' officials to close all commercial activities in the city at the notified time.

Local administration and police teams are seen active to ensure strict implementation of the government decision.

The deputy commissioner has appealed to the citizens to cooperate with the administration and close their businesses at the notified time to avoid legal action.

 

[daytrader]

PM Shehbaz orders early resolution of energy crisis

LAHORE: Taking action over increasing public complaints about loadshedding across the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered an early resumption of power generation from the plants closed due to various administrative and technical issues.

The prime minister sought a detailed report from the power division highlighting the reasons behind loadshedding, its solution and measures taken by the government so far. He also directed the authorities concerned to quickly resolve the issues concerning provision of drinking water and agricultural facilities, including supply of adequate water for irrigation purposes, to the provinces and enable the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to take decisions in consultation with the provinces.

“The [power] plants, which are not in operation these days, must be operated with immediate effect in a bid to end loadshedding and give relief to the public at large,” PM Sharif ordered at a high-level meeting in Lahore.

The meeting, which was attended by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir, Minister of State for Petroleum Musaddaq Malik, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Special Assistant to the PM on Public Policy and Strategic Communi*cation Fahd Hussain, discussed the power crisis and suggested various measures to resolve it.

Discusses political situation with Chaudhry Shujaat

The ministers concerned briefed the meeting on the causes behind loadshedding which, according to them, are due to acts of omission and commission by the previous PTI government.

The meeting was told that two power projects — Karot Hydro and Shanghai Thar — were delayed, first on account of lack of ownership and monitoring and then because of failure to fulfil contractual commitments on already completed projects, thus delaying financial close.

The government’s failure to open Revolving Account for the completed projects like Sahiwal Coal and Hub Power meant no further financing for the energy sector under the CPEC umbrella. The previous government also did not understand the CPEC’s energy framework as it was simply out there to strangle and slow it.

Another high-efficiency project — Punjab Thermal RLNG Power Plant at Trimmu, Jhang (1,263MW) — was also delayed for more than three years by the PTI government.

Had these three projects (3,200MW) been completed on time, loadshedding in urban parts of the country would not have been witnessed despite high energy prices in the international market, the meeting was told.

The prime minister was informed that during the Covid-19 pandemic (mid-2020), RLNG prices went far lower in the international market, but that opportunity of buying RLNG at $3-5 per MMBTU was not availed by the then government and no long-term contract was made. Had such contract been signed, the consumers would have paid much lower electricity bills.

On circular debt, PM Sharif was informed that it stood at Rs1.152 trillion in June 2018, which rose to Rs2.467tr in March 2022, an increase of 114 per cent, despite major injection out of taxpayers’ money. One of the major causes of this rapid rise in circular debt is depreciation of the rupee from Rs115 per dollar to Rs191 under the watch of the PTI government and under the caretaker arrangement which was put in place before that.

It was further revealed that under the executed LNG supply contracts with Qatar Petroleum/Qatar Energy, the state-run PSO imported 5+2 LNG cargoes, whereas PLL is left with one LNG supply contract with ENI Italy as the other supplier — M/s Guvnor — prematurely terminated the contract in April 2022, following a series of consistent default in supply of cargoes since year 2021.

The premier was told that his office made spot purchasing of LNG from April till June 2022 for enhanced RLNG supplies to the power sector. It also ensured supply to power plants to the maximum extent possible against the demand raised. In order to control loadshedding, effective July 2022, RLNG has fully been curtailed for captive (export and non-export) for supply to power plants from July 1 to 8.

PM Sharif, who once led public protests in Lahore against loadshedding during the PPP-led government before 2013, heard and discussed issues in depth and directed the participants to make efforts to overcome the energy crisis in the country.

PM meets Shujaat

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to inquire about his health and discussed matters of mutual interest and the prevailing political situation in the country.

Though there was no official word neither from the government nor from the media cell of the PML-Q leader, a media website reported that Mr Hussain lauded PM Sharif for focusing on agriculture in the federal budget.

The PML-Q president said the coalition government did practical work for the farmers, besides taking measures to offer direct benefit to the consumers. He also stressed that the government should take initiatives to grow crop seeds in Pakistan instead of importing them.

Federal minister Salik Hussain, provincial minister Malik Ahmad Khan and Chaudhry Shafay Hussain were present in the meeting.

Dawn News

 

[Energy]

Criminal load shedding continues in this hot weather. A severe energy crisis is upon us.

 

[MenInG]

The National Electric Pow*er Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Monday allowed K-Electric to raise about Rs19 billion additional funds in August by charging an unprecedented additional fuel cost adjustment (FCA) of Rs9.42 per unit to consumers on electricity they consumed in May.

At a public hearing presided over by Nepra Chairman Tauseef H. Farooqui, the regulator considered KE’s request for an increase of Rs11.34 per unit for the said month to raise Rs22.65bn but after minor disallowances worked out an increase of Rs9.42 per unit. Nepra found that KE had assumed its fuel cost for import from the national grid at Rs13.90 per unit while it was Rs13.83.

The regulator deducted an FCA of Rs1.68 per unit on the disparity in fuel prices and 24 paise per unit on account of under-utilisation of efficient plants, thus bringing down the FCA to Rs9.42 instead of Rs11.34 per unit claimed by KE.

The Karachi-based private power utility had also asked the regulator to allow it to charge these rates in July to ease its financial issues. Mr Farooqui, however, declined the request for billing such a heavy amount to consumers in July when they were already being charged Rs5.28 per unit FCA for electricity consumed a preceding month – April.

Nepra members criticise utility for not utilising cheaper fuel

In its petition, the KE said the power utility said it had charged a reference fuel cost rate of Rs16.88 per unit in May which turned out to be Rs28.22 per unit, resulting in a gap of Rs11.34per unit because of about 143pc higher fuel cost of its own and 52pc on account of power purchase cost including that of the national grid.

The major impact on the monthly fuel cost adjustment in May is due to an increase in the fuel price increase of furnace oil and power purchased from the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA). The price of furnace oil in May increased by 38pc from March while the price of RLNG between March to May increased by 50pc.

The KE’s team led by its chief executive officer Moonis Alvi told the regulator that the major factor for higher FCA was the fuel price spike in the international market. Also, the KE was given lower quantities of RLNG because of the default in LNG supplies.

Nepra members Rafique A Shaikh and Maqsood Anwar criticised the power utility for not utilising available cheaper fuel but the KE’s team contended it was not available. The members asked why it did not pick wind power from Jhimpir and Thatta corridors.

The KE’s team, however, explained that the power utility could have a maximum intake of 1,400MW from the national grid and since the power shortage was a national phenomenon, KE was getting about 1,100MW from the national grid.

A representative of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tanveer Bari said the increase in FCA was unprecedented and would lead to the closure of the industry. He accused the KE of doing nothing to upgrade its system. The Nepra chief agreed that KE needed to come up with out-of-the-box solutions and consider renewables for cheaper energy.

The KE’s representatives said the utility would generate about 800MW of solar energy in four years and was also working on 600MW local coal-based power plant. Mr Alvi said cheaper LNG was not in foresight and the company would exploit all options.

Under the tariff mechanism, changes in fuel cost are passed on to consumers only on monthly basis through an automatic mechanism while quarterly tariff adjustments on account of variation in the power purchase price, capacity charges, variable operation and maintenance costs, use of system charges and including the impact of transmission and distribution losses are built in the base tariff by the federal government.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

Amid cou*n*trywide electricity shortages, the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum hydro*power project, completed at an estimated approved cost of about Rs508bn, has been closed due to major cracks in its tailrace tunnel.

“Neelum-Jhelum is unfortunately offline. Details of its suspension or fault have not been concluded yet,” Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan confirmed at a presser, adding that thorough investigations were currently under way of all its channels, which are deep and long, some of them under huge mountains.

The project’s construction was taken in hand in 2002 after 21 years of delay and completed in April 2018 — again with repeated cost overruns and missed deadlines.

Major construction involving about 58 kilometres of tunnels was done by Chinese contractor CGGC-CMEC (Gezhouba Group), hired in December 2007.

Despite its installed capacity of 969MW, the project has often exceeded its production level, touching 1,040MW. It was providing more than five billion units of electricity, or kilowatt-hours (kWh), to the national grid a year at an average tariff of about Rs9 per unit at no fuel cost.

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), which operates hydropower stations, later also confirmed that the project’s “tailrace tunnel has been blocked and as a result the power station has been closed for safety reasons”.

“The reasons for the closure of the tailrace tunnel are currently being investigated. Steps would be taken to remove the blockade of the tailrace once the reasons are known,” Wapda said in a statement issued in Urdu.

It said all relevant institutions had been informed of the closure of one of the country’s top hydropower plants through the Ministry of Water Resources.

Claims of lessening shortfall

The minister, however, said the power supply situation had improved as generation from Tarbela alone had increased by 2,500MW. He said the Tarbela power station had attained a power generation level of 3,684MW from just 1,125MW following the last five days of improved river inflows and the start of coal imports from Afghanistan.

As a result, there was about a 50pc drop in power shortfall of 4,000-5,000MW.

At the same time, electricity demand had also decreased because of improved weather, he said, adding that loadshedding would further drop during Eid days as the 1,100MW unit 2 of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (K-2) would come on stream in a couple of days after a tedious refuelling process.

The minister said there had been major progress on coal imports from Afghanistan and the 1,320MW Sahiwal Coal Power Project had reached an agreement with a private Afghan entity for coal supplies as the governments in Islamabad and Kabul played the role of facilitators. He said three trains full of Afghan coal had already been delivered to the Sahiwal plant.

He said the details of the agreement were not known to the government but would be available once these are submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for tariff approval.

Afghan coal

He confirmed that the Afghan government had increased duty on coal exports from $90 to $200 per tonne, but he insisted that it was still cheaper than imports from elsewhere as coal prices had gone beyond $400 per tonne from $90 a few months ago. Another advantage was that Pakistan was paying for Afghan coal in rupees, hence foreign exchange saving as well, he said.

He said a government delegation comprising senior officials would visit Kabul for discussions on how to permanently streamline coal supplies. He said Pakistan would request the interim Afghan government to ensure round-the-clock border operations to ensure uninterrupted coal supplies, particularly at night.

He said Afghanistan’s priority was the maximum clearance of their perishable items like fruits and vegetables in the daytime and coal operation could be handled throughout the night.

The minister declined to comment on some recent adverse comments from an Afghan minister, saying he would instead advocate that bilateral trade relations between neighbours were the best relationships for the people of all sides and improved linkages then put a positive impact on foreign relations.

Coal supply, he said, was a major transaction which had support from both governments. This is a business-to-business arrangement between independent power producers (IPPs) and Afghan coal suppliers. He said the Pakistani delegation would also raise the issue of a hike in export duties with Afghan authorities.

He said the 1,320MW China-Hubco Coal Power Plant was also in talks to procure Afghan coal and would soon be run on imported coal from next door.

The minister said Nepra had determined an increase of Rs7.91 per unit in the national electricity price through tariff rebasing and the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet had decided to implement it in three phases of Rs3.50 per unit in July and August each and 91 paise in October but the federal cabinet had not yet approved its implementation.

He said Punjab had already announced to pick the bill for those consuming fewer than 100 units of electricity per month for the last six months and the centre had also requested other provinces to follow suit to protect the poor.

He said the centre’s financial cushion was limited, but the provinces still had fiscal space to finance subsidies for poor consumers.

He said the tariff adjustments would take place, but rates would not be increased for lifeline consumers and massive subsidies would be given to them.

In reply to a query, the minister acknowledged the anticipatory approval of the prime minister for the base tariff increase but said it was done to challenge Nepra’s decision regarding rebasing of power tariff with a different sequencing.

The minister said the government would add another 5,000MW to the national grid system during the current fiscal year. These were all those projects that were started by the last PML-N government led by party supremo Nawaz Sharif, he said.

Beyond these projects, there would be no more capacity addition in future except in hydro, solar, wind, local coal and other domestic resources.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2022

 

[MenInG]

The power tariff on Friday was increased by Rs1.55 per unit, giving another electric shock to the nation.

The hike will take effect on the first of the ongoing month and it is in line with the second quarterly adjustment of the previous financial year.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has already issued a notification for the tariff hike and it will impose an additional burden of Rs39 billion on electricity consumers.

Additional recovery from power consumers will be notified for three months.

The notification will not apply to lifeline and K-Electric customers.

A day earlier, Nepra had approved a hike in power tariff by Rs7.90 per unit.

According to a notification issued by the power regulator, the increase was made under fuel adjustment charges for the month of June, following a demand from the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCPA) for a hike of Rs7.96 per unit.

Nepra had made the decision after conducting a hearing on the plea of CCPA.

The hearing was presided over by Nepra Chairman Tauseef H Farooqi. Nepra members Engineer Rafiq Ahmed Sheikh and Engineer Maqsood Anwar Khan were also present.

The CCPA had submitted an application for an increase of Rs7.96 per unit, Nepra said. According to the preliminary examination of the data, Nepra had worked out an increase of Rs7 per unit.

The amount would be received in the bills of July, the regulator said, adding that lifeline and K-Electric consumers were exempted from the tariff hike.

Earlier in April, the power distribution companies had charged Rs3.99 per unit on account of fuel adjustment, which was for a month only. The distribution companies would charge Rs3.91 per unit more than April in July bills under the monthly fuel adjustment.

Earlier this month, Nepra had approved another increase in electricity for K-Electric customers by Rs9.66 per unit.

The increase in electricity prices had been made in the context of May's monthly fuel adjustment. According to K-Electric officials, the company had a financial burden of Rs380 billion.

Commenting on the matter, the Nepra chairman had said that if the company was experiencing difficulties in providing cheap electricity then it might seek the electricity regulatory authority’s help. “We are ready to talk to the federal and provincial governments for cheap electricity,” he added.

It may be noted that on June 25, the power regulator had approved an increase of Rs5.27 per unit in the electricity tariff of K-Electric on account of the fuel cost adjustment for April 2022.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

Prolonged power outages hit Karachi after heavy rains submerge city

• At least 24 people were killed due to rain-related incidents in Karachi, said the police.
• Rain, sewerage water enter houses of DHA, Lyari, and Liaquatabad.
• Several areas of city witness hours-long power outage.

KARACHI: Intermittent heavy rains in different parts of Karachi since Monday evening have inundated many areas of the city, bringing life to a complete halt.

To top it all off, the electricity supply in most areas of the city has been suspended for several hours, making it difficult for people to carry on their day-to-day activities.

Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS) Block B has been without power for the last 24 hours, while residents of DHA's Khayaban e Badban say the supply of electricity has been suspended for the last 36 hours.

According to Geo News, rainwater accumulated on the main roads and streets of the Defense Housing Authority (DHA), Clifton, Malir, Airport Road, I.I Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Old City Area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, Korangi, and PECHS.

In addition to residential areas, several main roads of the city, including the NIPA Chowrangi Flyover, Qayyummabad Chowrangi, Arts Council Chowrangi, Supreme Court Registry, Zainab Market, Bolton Market, and MA Jinnah Road have been flooded with rain and sewerage water, affecting the flow of traffic.

Pay attention to victims of rain, floods, PM Shehbaz Sharif says on Eid
Meanwhile, several vehicles and motorcycles broke down on the streets because of the accumulated water.

Flooding of streets, houses in DHA
Owing to the incessant rains throughout Monday, several phases of DHA became flooded with water. These include Tauheed Commercial Area, Ittehad Commercial Area, Khayaban e Shamsheer, Muslim Commercial, Sea View, Badr Commercial, Saba Avenue, Khayaban e Bahria, 26th Street, Khayaban e Mujahid and Khayaban e Tanzeem.

According to the report, rainwater entered many houses, damaging furniture and other household items.

Meanwhile, stagnant water outside the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) — the largest cardiology hospital in the city — made it difficult for ambulances to travel back and forth.

The Clifton submarine underpass and the KPT underpass had to be closed due to flooding, while rainwater also entered houses in certain areas of Liaquatabad and Bihar Colony of Lyari.

Forecast for more rainfall
According to meteorologist Jawad Memon, a new rain system is moving toward the city, which is likely to bring more heavy rains to Karachi within the next few hours.

Meteorological analysts say that rain clouds from the Arabian Sea are moving toward the city continuously, therefore, there is a possibility of intermittent rain till tomorrow evening.

24 killed in Karachi due to rain-related incidents
Karachi Police said Tuesday that 24 people have been killed due to the rains that lashed the city from July 4-11.

The law enforcement agency said that 15 were killed due to electrocution, while nine people were killed due to other rain-related incidents.

The police said that the deaths due to electrocution were reported from Karachi’s Bahadurabad, Garden Town, New Karachi, Industrial Area, Darkhshan and Sohrab Goth.

While people that deaths were reported due to drowning were from Malir, Liaquatabad, Sohrab Goth, Gadap, Baloch Colony and Domba Goth. Deaths due to roof collapse were reported from New Karachi, Gulberg and Chamra Chowrangi, said the police.

On the other hand, a day earlier the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had said that 26 people were killed in rain related incidents during current spell of monsoon rains across Sindh.

In a statement, PDMA had said 14 died in Karachi, nine in Thatta, two in Khairpur and one in Sukkur.

DHA receives heaviest rainfall
The Pakistan Meteorological Department released Monday's rainfall data of Karachi from 6am to 11am, according to which the heaviest rainfall, measuring 126.6mm, was recorded in DHA Phase II.

On the other hand, PAF Faisal Base received 88mm of rainfall, Masroor Base received 53mm of rainfall, North Karachi 38mm, while Old Airport and University Road received 35.6mm and 34 mm of rainfall, respectively.

Funds given to Karachi spent for accumulating properties in Dubai: Imran Khan
Lashing out at the Sindh government and PPP-co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari over the post-rain situation in the province, Imran Khan alleged that the funds given to Karachi during his tenure ended up in fake accounts and were invested in Dubai properties.

Taking to Twitter, he said that this "nexus of evil" must be brought to an end.

Imran said that the first spell of monsoon rains has exposed the 14-year corrupt rule of the Zardari family in the province.

“Rains once again exposed the 14-year corrupt rule of Zardari’s family in Sindh. It is the classic example how corruption ruins governance,” he added.

Geo News

 

[MenInG]

The electricity shortfall across the country has again reached 6,439 megawatts, causing power outages of six to eight hours in cities and 10 to 12 hours in rural areas.

Despite more than normal rains in the country, the required production of electricity could not be achieved. The total production of electricity in the country is 18,461MWs while the total demand stands at 24,900MWs. According to Power Division sources, 7,500MWs of electricity was being generated from private sector power plants.

They added that 6,700MWs of electricity was being produced from hydropower sources.
Similarly, 2,425MWs of electricity is being generated from nuclear fuel. The government thermal plants, wind power, and solar sources are producing 830MWs, 786MWs, and 145MWs of electricity, respectively.

Last month, the government’s inability to resolve the continuing electricity crisis had led to some ministers and top bureaucrats reportedly being rebuked by PM Shehbaz, as he questioned why several power generation plants had been closed or operating below capacity during the blistering summer months.

The premier had also demanded a report detailing any other reasons for the power outages, which have also had knock-on effects on agriculture and drinking water supply, apart from commercial and industrial activity.

The electricity shortfall in the country currently lowered to 4,848MWs after PM Shehbaz had some of the closed power plants reopened, but apparently it is back to square one again. Some of these problems are already well known — poor decision-making by the previous government, the falling value of the local currency, fuel supply problems, and the impact of power theft and line losses caused by corruption and mismanagement.

But the fact is that the people have been living with these problems, with varying degrees of intensity, for most of their lives, yet the situation never looked as bad as it does now. Unfortunately, the proposed solutions for the increased intensity of problems have lacked a corresponding degree of intensity.

A broader and newer problem in the government’s power plans is the focus on setting up new solar plants. While many parts of Pakistan do have the right conditions for this environment-friendly initiative, the high costs of setting up such plants are not something the country can afford at the moment. Those costs also explain why solar only represents 0.5% of total power output at the moment.

While some detractors remain critical of the plan to import more coal for power plants, the fact is that it is probably the best and cheapest short-term fix – especially when imported from neighbouring Afghanistan, as claimed. Pakistan’s coal consumption is minuscule in global terms, as is the country’s contribution to climate change.

As for domestic air quality, the country can worry about clean air when it solves the problems caused by lack of electricity – the problems ranging from illnesses and deaths resulting from the extreme heat and suffering due to job losses as industries are forced to close due to unavailability of electricity in the required amount.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

The government plans to launch solar power projects of around 14,000 megawatts this year, as an alternative energy source to the costly electricity being generated using imported fuel, under an initiative, that includes reduced prices for solar systems along with tax incentives.

Chairing a meeting to review measures for the promotion of solar energy in the country on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed for prioritising Balochistan in the provision of solar systems, stressing that solarisation would help reduce the fuel import bill.

“The people will be provided with solar systems as an alternate to the costly electricity being generated using the imported fuel. The solarisation would not only reduce the import bill of costly fuel but also help generate low-cost and environment-friendly electricity,” the premier added.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to carry out comprehensive planning for the early execution of the solar projects. He called for giving priority to Balochistan in the provision of solar systems across the country.

Earlier the meeting was briefed about the solar projects as an alternative to costly power projects. It was informed that the government would launch solarisation projects of around 14,000 megawatts within the next few months.

Out of these, the solar projects of around 9,000MW would be executed on priority, the officials told the meeting. Under the initiative, they said that the solar systems would not only be provided at reduced prices but also be given tax incentives.

The prime minister said that the alternate energy policy introduced by the previous Imran Khan-led government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2020 failed not only to produce the required results but also to attract investment in the sector.

The premier asked an inquiry commission for the early submission of a report on the suspension of power projects during the PTI government’s tenure. He also sought a detailed report on the amount received as fuel price adjustment through the electricity bills.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked to provide relief to consumers who consume between 200 and 300 electricity units per month, but a final decision has yet to be taken.

Addressing the media, Miftah announced that Qatar has approved an investment worth $3 billion in Pakistan and wants a long-term lease of airports while it is looking to invest in seaports as well.

Moreover, he added that Qatar has also shown interest in investment in LNG power plants, along with the installation of 8,000-megawatt solar plants. Miftah added that the government also intends to install 8,000-megawatt solar plants in the country.

Touching upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, he shared that the executive board meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday.

Miftah went on to say that the financing gap of $4 billion has also been filled as the United Arab Emirates announced an investment worth $2 billion in Pakistan and added that there was no commitment to fix the exchange rate with the IMF.

Furthermore, the finance minister announced that an oil facility will be provided by Saudi Arabia on deferred payments, adding that expensive oil deals were the cause of the surge in electricity rates during the months of March and April.

The minister said that there was no talk of selling the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.

Speaking about the devastation caused by floods, the finance minister maintained that relief efforts are underway and the rehabilitation work will begin after some time, adding that it was difficult to estimate the cost for reconstruction and rehabilitation for now.

Touching upon rumours regarding internal rifts within the PML-N involving the minister, he said it was true that people within his party were unhappy with him.

“Obviously, who would be happy about inflation? I want to ask Abid Sher Ali if I have taken any decision without the nod of the prime minister,” he said, adding that it is easy to criticise him.

Referring to petroleum products, Miftah said that there is currently no GST on the products and the government has no intention of imposing it either.

 

[MenInG]

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday approved dropping the power Tariff for K-electric consumers by Rs4.87 per unit, ARY News reported.

The tariff reduction, made in the fuel adjustment charges, would relieve K-electric consumers of Rs7 billion. The reduction would not apply to lifeline consumers of KE.

 

[daytrader]

Govt unveils big power relief for exporters
Dar says Rs20 per unit subsidised electricity to be provided to five export-oriented sectors

ISLAMABAD:
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday struck a deal with exporters under which subsidised electricity at nearly Rs20 per unit would be provided to them in a move that will restore the trader community’s confidence in the government but would not stop misuse of the subsidy for domestic production.

“The per unit electricity cost for the five export-oriented sectors has been agreed at Rs19.99 per unit that will involve Rs90-100 billion annul subsidies,” Dar announced in a hurriedly-called news conference. He made the announcement after meeting with a delegation of the exporters.

“The government will give Rs10 to Rs15 per unit subsidy to the exporters,” said a senior official of the Power Division.

In a positive development, Dar also delinked power tariff for the industries from the US dollar, saying “we should start thinking in the rupee”.

The finance minister once again reiterated that the real value of the local currency was below Rs200 and he wanted to fix the tariff at Rs18 per unit by keeping in mind around Rs200 per dollar rate.

However, on the insistence of the exporters, the rate is fixed at Rs19.99 per unit, he added. To a question, the finance minister said that he did not feel the need to take prior permission of the International Monetary Fund for giving the subsidies, saying that the fund would be taken into confidence at an appropriate time.

“I have fiscal space in the budget to give the subsidy to the exporters,” said the finance minister. He said that the IMF team would be visiting Pakistan from October 26 for the review talks.

The delegation is arriving on a 10-day visit to review implementation on the IMF programme for July-September period. However, the government seems to be in breach of some commitments, including further increasing electricity prices by 91 paisa per unit with effect from October 1.

The government had committed to provide electricity to the exporters at 9 cents per unit for the fiscal year 2022-23 but suddenly discontinued the practice from October 1 after the Rs20 billion subsidy was consumed in less than two months.

The Power Division has estimated that the five export-oriented sectors will consume 12 billion units of electricity in the current fiscal year, which is 50% more than the consumption in a year when the economy grew at the rate of 6%.

The exporters suspect that the electricity consumption estimates are inflated ones and the actual subsidies will be less than Rs100 billion. But the official of the Power Division said that the 12 billion consumption estimates are based on the actual consumption in August.

The withdrawal of the subsidies had created resentment among the exporters who threatened to close their factories from next week.

Dar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former finance minister Miftah Ismail had committed to provide electricity at 9 cents. “It is my responsibility to take the necessary cabinet approvals for the Rs19.99 per unit cost,” he added.

The decision to provide electricity at reduced rates would restore investors’ confidence on the government. However, the government has not devised a new mechanism to plug the misuse of the subsidy.

The subsidized electricity is also used for domestic production in the name of exports. The government can address the issue by crediting the subsidy against the exports into bank accounts instead of giving it through energy.

There has also been criticism against the exporters for not enhancing exports despite availing billions of rupees subsidies and 100% currency devaluation.

“The historical trend suggests that a 10% inflation-adjusted devaluation leads to 5% increase in the exports in the longer run,” said Gonzalo Varela, an economist with the World Bank. He added that rapidly increasing inflation in Pakistan was eating up the benefits of the rupee devaluation for the exporters.

The strengthening of the currencies of the trading partners and the supply constraints also limited the impact of the currency depreciation on the exports, Gonzalo added.

Pakistan’s trade deficit shrank over one-fifth to $9.2 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year solely on the back of a steep fall in imports as exporters failed to take advantage of 100% currency devaluation over the past five years.

According to the PBS, exports stood at mere $7.1 billion, up $129 million, or 1.8%, during the July-September period. The unimpressive export proceeds should be a matter of concern as they indicate that the country will not only miss the annual export target of nearly $38 billion, but the receipts may also be lower than the previous fiscal year.

The monthly export bill is hovering around $2.5 billion, barring last fiscal year when it briefly touched $3 billion due to high global commodity prices.
The finance minister said that actual increase in exports due to the rupee devaluation was just $800 million.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

Karachi suffered a major power breakdown on Thursday morning in the sweltering weather as an Extra High Tension (EHT) line tripped and affected the power supply in the metropolis, ARY News reported on Thursday.

According to details, the power supply was interrupted after an extra high-tension line tripped, resulting in the closure of more than 30 grids.

Power outages were observed in Gulshan-e-Maymar, FB Area, Liaquatabad, SITE, Superhighway, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Surjani Town, Gulshan, Shah Faisal and Malir.

 

[MenInG]

A major power breakdown took place on Thursday — amounting to 8,000 megawatts, according to the energy minister — depriving large swathes of southern Pakistan, including financial capital Karachi, of electricity.

The Ministry of Energy attributed the breakdown to an“accidental fault“ in the transmission system.

“Several power plants in the south are tripping in phases due to an accidental fault in the country’s southern transmission system. As a result, there have been disruptions in the supply of electricity to the country’s south,” the ministry said in a tweet following reports of power outages.

Later, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, in a press conference was hopeful that electricity would be fully restored “to normalcy” by tonight, and announced that power had begun returning to parts of southern Punjab.

He shared the preliminary findings of the circumstances that led to the breakdown. “This morning at 9:16am, our two 500kv lines in the south — Karachi — there was a fault in both of them. I am not calling it an accident yet, because an inquiry has yet to be conducted. […] there was a fault in them and they fell, as a result the country’s southern region saw an electricity blackout.

“Our first priority was to isolate Karachi from it, and we were successful in doing so and we isolated Karachi from it by 9:45. By isolate, I mean that the 1,000MW that we provide to Karachi daily, was cut. But KE’s system is independently operational and is supplying electricity to [parts of] the city.”

He said as a result of the two power lines in which the fault developed, parts of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta, and partially in Multan and Faisalabad experienced power breakdowns.

Dastgir added that he was personally monitoring the progress of the restoration.

“As a result of this breakdown, a large part of our power plants are out of our system, around 8,000MW, of which we have restored 4,700MW,” he said.

“Electricity has been completely restored in Multan and Faisalabad. There is an issue in Hyderabad, but we have restored Sepco partially till Dadu. There is also [power] connectivity in Shikarpur, and because of partial connections in Sukkur. Qesco has been restored till Sibi.”

The minister said three teams were in the field: one was the reconnection team dealing with the cut-off conductors, the second team was for repairs, wherever needed, and the third team, was the inquiry team, which would submit a report to the ministry of energy in four days identifying the cause of the incident.

“Our biggest success is that we prevented a breakdown in the north. We limited the shutdown to the south through timely reconnection … the north was completely saved from the shutdown.

“We are trying to completely restore the system between maghrib and isha,” he said.

“It is taking time. The power plants that were shut down will take hours to restart. These include coal plants, Thar coal plants and nuclear plants in Karachi, wherever there has been tripping, plants are being restarted according to their technical specifications.

“We expect that those plants will start production in the next few hours, and as I said, we will completely restore the system between 7-8pm. Our priorities at present are [the restoration of power in] Karachi and Quetta and then Hyderabad too.”

He said the tripping developed near Karachi and moved northward. “There are two lines in Karachi’s south — NK1 and Jamshoro — there was a fault in them simultaneously.

He, however, insisted that there was no fault in the system in Karachi, only the transmission of 1,000MW from the national grid had been cut off. “When the plants will be restarted, 1,000MW supply will be restored [to the city].”

The minister hinted that human error could be responsible for the fault, though he wouldn’t confirm it until the inquiry team’s report arrives. “When the inquiry team’s report is received, if we have to take disciplinary action in its light, we will,” he added.

“We have to find the actual cause, whether it was an accident or there was another reason.”

Meanwhile, K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana tweeted that the utility had received reports of “multiple outages” from different parts of Karachi.

“We are investigating the issue and will keep this space posted,” he said.

In an update posted around 11:45am, he confirmed that the suspension in electricity supply was due to a fault in the southern transmission system, as explained by the Ministry of Energy.

He added that work had been started to restore the supply and the complete restoration would take around five hours.

In Karachi, reports of power outages were received from localities near Rashid Minhas Road, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Liaquatbad C-1 Area, Federal B Area’s block 11, 12 and 13, Nazimabad’s block 3 and 4, Kharadar, Lyari, Old City Area, Malir Halt, Rafah-i-Aam Society, Millenium Mall, areas near Dalmia Road, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Defence Housing Authority and PECHS.

There were also reports of the suspension of electricity supply to City Courts and accountability courts in the metropolis

 

[MenInG]

Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday assured that power will be restored throughout the country by 8pm following a power outage impacting southern areas of the country.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the blackout was a result of the power in two lines being cut, shutting down the coal power plant in Thar and the nuclear power plant in Karachi.

He added that a fault in two lines is “not normal” and will be investigated.

So far, the minister explained, 5,000MW out of 8,000MW have been restored. “Power has been fully restored in Multan and Faislabad, while the restoration is ongoing in areas of Karachi, Quetta and Hyderabad,” he maintained.

The minister warned that the restoration process will take time but guaranteed that the electricity will return to normalcy throughout the country by tonight.

He informed there were three teams dealing with the power outage situation: the reconnection team, the repair team, and the inquiry team.

He maintained that the inquiry team has been given four days to submit a report regarding details of the cause of the blackout. “Once this is brought to light necessary action will be taken,” said Dastgir.

Read Power bills to come down next month, NA told

Dastgir noted that the relevant authorities took prompt action to address the situation in its early stages, by “isolating” Karachi early on and minimising the damage.

“The outage began at 9:16am and Karachi’s electrical system was isolated by 9:35am,” he added. He explained that by “isolate”, he meant that the “1,000MW that we provide to Karachi daily, was cut”. However, he stated that K-Electric’s system was independently operational and was supplying electricity to parts of the metropolis.

The northern part of the country was “kept safe” from the blackout due to the country’s quick response, he said.

Earlier in the day, power outages were reported in southern parts of the country, including Karachi.

The Ministry of Energy confirmed the development through its official Twitter handle, stating that there has been "an accidental fault" in the country's electricity transmission system.

The ministry said that several southern power plants are "tripping" in phases, which is disrupting the transmission of electricity in the southern part of Pakistan.

Read More Imran says ‘someone else’ called the shots during his govt

It added that they are "diligently investigating the cause of the fault" and that the power system will be fully restored as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, KE spokesperson Imran Rana said the electricity-providing company was also “investigating the issue" and will provide updates on the situation.

Initially, Rana said that "multiple outages" were being reported from different parts of Karachi. However, he later maintained that power outages are being reported in various parts of Pakistan "including KE territory".

He added that "the recovery process has started - a full recovery may take approximately 5 hours."

https://tribune.com.pk/story/238135...onight-as-parts-of-country-still-face-outages

 

[MenInG]

The Ministry of Energy said Thursday that the electricity transmission system was “fully restored” across Pakistan after a major 12-hour power breakdown, ARY News reported.

Taking to Twitter, the ministry said the disturbance in two 500kv lines in the south of Karachi was resolved. “Electricity supply is being increased from alternative power plants, which will return to normal by Friday morning,” the ministry tweeted.

 

[daytrader]

Cabinet okays plan to overhaul power sector

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to stem the line losses and put an end to corruption in the power sector, the federal cabinet on Tuesday approved drastic measures, including installation of advanced metering infrastructure and low-cost solar energy projects, to overhaul the existing electricity generation and distribution system.

A meeting of the cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also approved steps to complete the ongoing census exercise, provide seeds to farmers for the wheat crop in collaboration with provinces, besides appointments in power distribution companies (Discos), and action against corrupt officials.

Power sector reforms
According to the Prime Minister Office (PMO), the cabinet approved the expansion of the current installation of advanced meters project from Islamabad to other parts of the country to overcome the issue of line losses which stood at seven per cent. The cabinet also approved the installation of advanced meters on power transformers.

The plan to overhaul the power sector includes appointments in Discos, action against corrupt officials in the power division, measures to reduce line losses and stem power theft, and low-cost solar energy initiatives. The prime minister said well-reputed officers should be deputed in the distribution companies to improve their functioning and reduce the line losses to ensure better public delivery.

Advanced electricity meters, appointments in Discos, solar energy initiatives on the cards

During the meeting, the officials of the power division apprised the federal cabinet on power theft, line losses, bills, and recovery, along with issues pertaining to recoveries from the feeders running into losses, and the steps taken in this regard.

The cabinet directed the power division to present a comprehensive report on vacant posts for essential staffers in Discos and stressed that the recruitment process should be transparent and at par with global practices.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the average seven per cent line losses, the prime minister set up a committee headed by Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif to devise a plan and submit recommendations for reforms in power distribution companies.

The cabinet also approved the recommendation of the power division for the promotion of low-cost solar power energy initiatives. These steps included running the existing power units on solar energy during the day instead of using imported fuel for power generation, besides permission to the private investors to install 11kV feeders in the rural areas. The cabinet decided to shift government-owned buildings to solar power to save fuel.

PM meets MQM
Later in the day, a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement met PM Sharif and discussed the census with him in line with the party’s long-held demand that the next general elections should be held according to the new census results.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

GAS SHORTFALL THIS WINTER LIKELY TO SOAR ON RECORD LEVEL

LAHORE: The country could face an intense gas shortage crisis in the winter, citing sources of the gas utility, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

“The consumers should get prepare to face the gas crisis,” sources at the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) said.

“Presently the country’s gas production is 750 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), while the imported RLNG has been around 1000 MMcfd,” the gas utility sources said.

“The gas demand has started rising and the shortfall is likely to soar to its highest level,” according to sources.

“Currently the gas supply has been 1700 MMcfd, while the demand has soared above 2500 million cubic feet per day,” sources said.

“Domestic consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces will likely to get gas three times in a day, while supplying gas to the industrial and commercial sector will be difficult,” according to sources.

“The orders of imported LNG has been curtailed owing to very expansive rates,” sources said.

“SNGPL has informed the chambers of commerce about the impending gas crisis,” source said.

“No attention given to discover new gas deposits, while our local reserves of gas will likely to be dried in the next few years,” sources added.

The gas shortfall of Sui Northern and Southern gas companies could increase to 1.2 billion cubic feet. Supply of LNG to domestic consumers up to 350 mmcfd has been proposed by the ministry.

According to sources, it has been proposed to halt gas supply to commercial consumers from November 1 and shift them to the LNG.

Gas supply to CNG sector will also be halted in the upcoming winter season due to expected shortage.

Sources in the petroleum division say that the implementation of the gas load management plan has been proposed from November 1. After the approval from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the plan will be enforced.

ARY

 

[ZafarKhan2022]

So much corruption, lying, and fraud ingrained in our culture. Look at how much Vietnam and Ghana have progressed in a short amount of time.

 

[daytrader]

Load management plan for winter: Gas for three hours in morning, two hours for lunch, three hours for dinner
The government has decided to fine-tune the gas load management plan under which it will provide gas to domestic consumers only for cooking times in winter

ISLAMABAD: While people in various pockets of main cities of Punjab, KPK are getting either no gas or at low pressure, the government has decided to fine-tune the gas load management plan under which it will provide gas to domestic consumers only for cooking times in winter — three hours in the morning from 6 am to 9 am, two hours from 12 noon to 2 pm for lunch and three hours from 6 pm to 9 pm for dinner.

“More importantly, commercial consumers will be provided RLNG in Punjab except for Roti Tandoors, which will be provided system gas (local gas),” one of the top officials of Energy Ministry told The News.

“The CNG, fertilizer, cement and non-export industry will be having zero gas supply,” said the official. “If the winter season peaks from December 15 to January 31, the gas supply may be cut off to captive power plants of export industry and for the power sector, the existing gas supply of 200 mmcfd may be halved.”

He said the gas deficit in the country for the winter season 2022-23 has been worked out at 1.35 bcfd (billion cubic feet gas per day). “It has been worked out that the gas deficit would stay at 900-1,000 mmcfd in the SNGPL system that covers Punjab and KPK. The gas availability in the SNGPL system would remain in the range of 1,520 mmcfd (770 mmcfd of local gas plus 750 mmcfd of RLNG) against the demand of 2,100-2,500 mmcfd. The gas consumers in SNGPL stand at 7.5 million (6.5 million in Punjab and 1 million in KPK).”

Likewise, the gas availability in the Sui Southern (SSGCL) system would be in the range of 925-1,000 mmcfd against the demand of 1,250-1,500 mmcfd. The gas deficit in the SSGC system has been estimated in the range of 250-350 mmcfd. The gas supply to the CNG, fertilizer, cement, and non-export industries will be zero.

The Petroleum Division has also sought the amount of Rs105 billion for injecting the costly RLNG into the domestic sector for the winter season 2022-23. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has desired that domestic consumers should be kept on top priority and should be provided gas with pressure. And this is only possible if RLNG is diverted to domestic consumers of Punjab and KPK.

Interestingly, the cost of RLNG, which was earlier diverted to domestic consumers in the last four winters, has not been recovered. The cost of RLNG that has so far been injected into the domestic sector stands at Rs108 billion and this amount has not been recovered. The country’s gas sector is already soaked in circular debt of Rs1,500 billion. The Petroleum Division would put up this case before the PM for approval of Rs105 billion to ensure diversion of RLNG, so that gas to domestic consumers could be provided for cooking times at required pressure.

“Currently, the sale price of natural gas stands at Rs400 per MMBTU whereas the RLNG cost is at $13 per MMBTU (Rs3,100). The Petroleum Division wants the differential to be paid by consumers through the revenue requirements of gas utilities.”

Under the amended act, RLNG is no longer called a petroleum product but has been renamed as a gas of which the cost can now be recovered from domestic consumers through revenue requirement petitions of Sui Southern and Sui Northern.

The gas supply to captive power plants of export sectors would also be shut down if winter turns more severe. Right now, the captive power plants are being provided 50 percent gas supply. However, for processing in the textile sector, the gas of 40-42 mmcfd would continue. The government is extending electricity at the rate of Rs19.99 per unit, which is why it would halt the gas supply to captive power plants. Right now the power sector is currently being provided 165-200 mmcfd of gas, which would be halved during the peak winter.

The News PK

 

[daytrader]

Crisis deepens as domestic consumers to get gas only at ‘meal times’

KARACHI: While Sindh, particularly Karachi, has been experiencing either hour-long gas loadshedding or low pressure for the past many weeks, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Monday officially announced that domestic consumers would get gas only for total eight hours in a day — morning, afternoon and evening — during “meal timing”.

“As per the prime minister’s directives, SSGC is ensuring gas supply to its customers during meal hours as per the given schedule,” the utility said in a tweet.

According to the schedule mentioned in the tweet, the utility would supply gas in the morning time i.e. from 6am to 9am; then in the afternoon from 12pm to 2pm and then evening from 6pm to 9pm.

“Adhering to the directives of the prime minister, SSGC shall facilitate its domestic consumers, who are placed on top priority by the government of Pakistan, by ensuring the availability of gas supplies during meal timing, thrice a day,” said a statement.

While the SSGC preferred to stay silent about the remaining 16 hours of the day, the new gas schedule has given rise to speculations that the people would continue to face loadshedding in most parts of the day.

The beginning of the winter season has brought unannounced and prolonged gas loadshedding in the metropolis and other parts of the province piling miseries on people, mainly students and office-going people.

Despite the SSGC assurance, almost every locality in the city has been facing very low pressure or no supply of gas during peak hours for the past several days and the gas utility’s complaint service, 1199, kept on telling domestic consumers that they did not have any information about any scheduled or unscheduled loadshedding in any part of the city.

“We receive gas supply for total two hours in a day that too without enough pressure to cook or boil anything,” said a resident of the Malir Cantt area.

Another resident from Federal B Area complained that the pressure of gas was very low throughout the day.

The situation isn’t different in other city areas. A resident of Malir said that there’s no gas supply in the neighbourhood for almost a month.

“The trend started in first week of November when gas outages began. But it has turned worst now and there’s hardly any supply even for an hour,” he said.

In Gulshan-i-Iqbal, the residents are facing the same problem. An area resident said for last couple of weeks the gas had almost vanished and people were depending solely on LPG gas cylinders.

Meanwhile, Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh while talking to the media at the inauguration ceremony a turbine factory said that the gas crisis had intensified in the country, especially in the province.

He added that the provincial government would continue to raise voice regarding the gas crisis and hoped that the prime minister would take notice of the gas shortage.

“Sindh produces highest quantity of gas in the country, yet we are not getting gas as per our requirement,” he said, adding that the provincial government had registered its strong protest before the federal government.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

The government has devised a national contingency energy-saving plan to stabilise the economy, conserve energy and cut the import bill because an “extraordinary situation” required “extraordinary measures”, the information minister said on Thursday.

The plan, prepared by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, was approved in a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted that the plan would be presented in the next cabinet meeting for final approval and all the chief ministers would also be invited so that it could be implemented in collaboration with the provinces.


Under the plan, a crackdown on electricity theft would be launched and many private and government buildings would be converted to solar energy.

She said the main purpose of the emergency energy saving plan was to reduce the pressure on citizens and the economy as the price of fuel, including oil, continued to rise in the global market.

“Extraordinary measures are required to deal with the extraordinary situation so that the contingency plan would significantly reduce the import bill,” she added.

The meeting was apprised that as a result of the energy-saving plan, billions of dollars could be saved annually that would help stabilise the economy.

Ms Aurangzeb said extraordinary measures were necessary to deal with the extraordinary situation in which every Pakistani would have to play his part.

The minister quoted Prime Minister Sharif as saying: “Saving energy is imperative for Pakistan’s survival.”

She later said in a Twitter post that “Pakistan’s import bill is $29 billion annually. This amount in rupees is more than 6 kharab rupees. As a result of the energy saving plan, annual savings of billions of dollars have been estimated, which is more than 262bn in Pakistani rupees”.

However, her tweet was riddled with errors as $29bn equals Rs60 kharab (or Rs6 trillion) and the country’s import bill crossed $80bn in the previous fiscal year. Besides, savings of Rs262bn would result in reducing the bill by a mere $1.2bn.

Perhaps this is what prompted a Twitter user to tell Ms Aurangzeb: “We also want to live in a Pakistan where the import bill is $29bn.”

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

Pakistan to import gas from Azerbaijan
Import necessary to cater to the rising energy demand during winter

In order to cater to the rising energy demand during winter, the government has decided to import additional gas from Azerbaijan in next couple of months.

Talking to a private TV channel, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik said that Pakistan would import 20,0000 tons of additional gas from Azerbaijan during the next two months to meet its demand in the country.

He said the Russian petroleum minister would visit Pakistan next month for holding negotiations on an agreement for the import of crude oil from Russia.

The state minister said the government was working on TAPI gas pipeline project to import 1,300 billion MF gas yearly from Azerbaijan to meet the gas shortage in the country.

He said gas reservoirs in Pakistan were decreasing every year which caused additional pressure to import maximum commodity to meet the demand.

Express Tribune

 

[ex-q-zit]

Pak Plans To Shut Markets By 8 pm, Put Curbs On Weddings Over Power Crisis [/B

Markets and restaurants across Pakistan will have to pull down their shutters by 8 pm while wedding halls will be limited till 10 pm, as the cash-strapped country on Tuesday unveiled a desperate plan to conserve energy.

Pakistan is in the midst of an acute energy crisis, high inflation and depleting remittances.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the catastrophic floods in June have only compounded the country's energy woes.

The national energy-conservation programme was launched by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and it comes a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to reduce circular debt in the energy sector.

Asif said the federal government will approach provinces for the implementation of this nationwide scheme.

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, the minister said a final decision will be taken by Thursday.

"In the next few days, we will be approaching all the provinces with this national project and then on Thursday the final approval of the conservation policy will be given," Asif said.

Under this scheme, he said the timing of wedding halls would be limited to 10pm, while restaurants, hotels and markets would close down by 8pm.

He, however, said that there may be some room for the closing time for restaurants to be extended by an hour.

Asif said that if 20 per cent of the government workforce worked from home on a rotation basis, ₹ 56 billion could be saved and coupled with a few steps, the country would be able to save ₹ 62 billion.

He also said that energy-efficient fans and bulbs would soon be introduced to help save ₹ 38 billion and electric bikes would replace traditional motorcycles to reduce the consumption of petrol.

"We have begun imports for e-bikes and have started negotiations with motorcycle companies for the modification of existing motorcycles, which will save around ₹ 86 billion," he said.

The minister added that shifting to renewable energy was the obvious choice and the government was working on a plan, but measures like early closure of markets were key in achieving the proposed targets.

He called on the nation to "normalise" its behavioural patterns as the country was in a "grave economic crisis", adding that "we can't afford the culture of wastage anymore".

"I also believe that politicians should be the first ones to adopt these changes and become role models for the public," the minister added.

Foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan's central bank State Bank of Pakistan have fallen to its four-year low of USD 6.72 billion in the week ending on December 2.

The central bank data showed the foreign exchange reserves were last recorded at this level during the week that ended on January 18, 2019 at USD 6.64 billion.

NDTV

 

[daytrader]

Federal govt plans to close markets, shopping malls by 8pm
The federal cabinet decided to close markets, shopping areas and restaurants by 8 pm under an energy conservation plan

The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to close markets, shopping areas and restaurants by 8 pm under an energy conservation plan.

Briefing newsmen after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the implementation of the energy conservation plan would be finalised on Thursday after consultation with the provinces and having their input.

“Energy conservation and austerity are national causes and the federal government wants to implement them with provincial support,” the minister said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurengzeb and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira were also present.

Khawaja Asif told reporters that the measures approved by the federal cabinet on energy conservation would help save huge amount of foreign exchange on import bills.

The minister said the cabinet agreed to close all restaurants and markets by 8 pm.

However, the closure of restaurants would be finalised after consultation with the provinces.

According to the plan, the government would implement a policy of working from home for 20 percent of government employees based on rotation, which would help save Rs62 billion.

Similarly, there would be strict implementation of the closure of wedding halls by 10 pm. Moreover, electricity fans, bulbs and geysers will also made conservation-friendly, while streetlights will be switched on alternatively.

Using a special device placed inside the water of a gas geyser could save Rs92 billion per year. Another Rs 4 billion would be held with less electricity consumption for streetlights while using LED bulbs would also help save Rs23 billion every year.

Moreover, the use of electric bikes will be encouraged, and the government is negotiating with a company for their manufacturing.

He said that the information ministry would also run a special campaign to create awareness among the masses about the utility of these measures.

The minister expects all these measures to be finalised within a couple of days after consultation with the provinces.

He said the cabinet discussed in detail the impact of this policy of implementing austerity measures, which would become part of the national culture and also help the nation get rid of financial problems.

Speaking on the occasion, Qamar Zaman Kaira said during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s efforts in presenting the case of Pakistani nation and Kashmiris before the world during his press conference at the United Nations.

The News PK

 

[daytrader]

President calls for nationwide energy conservation plan
Dr Alvi emphasised the need for carrying out the electricity, gas and water audits of all public sector buildings

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday called for launching a consensus-based nationwide, comprehensive and all-encompassing electricity, gas and water conservation strategies to conserve precious national resources and divert them for the welfare and prosperity of the people.

The president, during a meeting on energy conservation at Aiwan-e-Sadr, underscored that a comprehensive policy and programme should be prepared after consulting all stakeholders, including the provinces, besides launching an awareness campaign across the country to conserve electricity, gas, and water.

The president said that there is a need to generate out-of-the-box ideas, absorb creative ideas, benchmark best practices around the world, develop policies and strategies around them and ensure their implementation on a timeline basis to achieve the desired objectives in the shortest possible timeframe.

“Pakistan can make rapid and accelerated progress in all sectors provided it enhanced and accelerated the implementation speed on initiatives of national importance, following a strict timeline while maintaining quality and ensuring desired outputs and outcomes”, he observed.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2393428/president-calls-for-nationwide-energy-conservation-plan

 

[MenInG]

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Tuesday that the federal cabinet has approved the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan — a policy aimed at saving energy — under which the timings of markets and wedding halls have been curtailed.

The development comes as the government resolves to reduce circular debt in the energy sector.

Media reports quoting the power division have said that the circular debt which stood at Rs2.253 trillion by end of September last year had now reached Rs2.437 trillion, showing an increase of Rs185bn.

Briefing the media after a meeting of the federal cabinet today, Asif said that the timings of wedding halls and markets across the country will be limited to 10pm and 8:30pm respectively.

 

[daytrader]

Govt unveils ‘early to bed, early to rise’ policy

• Markets to shutter at 8:30pm, wedding halls at 10pm
• Minister says plan in place to replace petrol-run motorcycles with e-bikes
• Review of water tariff for rural and urban areas on the cards
• Conical baffles in geysers to be made mandatory within a year
• Inefficient fans, bulbs to be phased out

ISLAMABAD: In order to stabilise the economy, the federal cabinet on Tuesday decided to implement “bold” decisions that include the closure of markets at 8:30pm and wedding halls at 10pm, the use of efficient electronic appliances, and a 40 per cent reduction in power consumption in government offices.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also vowed to enforce these decisions under a National Energy Conservation Plan, introducing certain measures to ensure judicious utilisation of national resources.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1729844/govt-unveils-early-to-bed-early-to-rise-policy

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

8 30 PM closure of malls/ markets is practically not possible!

 

[daytrader]

Nuclear energy becomes top electricity source for Pakistan
In December, out of the total pie of electricity generated from all sources, the share of nuclear energy was 27.15 percent

Nuclear energy became Pakistan’s top power source for the first time, as it met over 27 percent of the country’s energy demand in December 2022 at a cost of less than half a US cent.

In November too, nuclear generation was the top source after hydropower. Nuclear sources contributed 2,338 GWh of electricity to the national grid.

Pakistan has been actively pursuing the plan to increase the share of cleaner energy sources in its energy mix, as carbon-based power, especially oil and gas not only affect the environment but are also expensive. Each year, Islamabad spends multi-billion dollars on fossil fuels imports.

In December, out of the total pie of electricity generated from all sources, the share of nuclear energy was 27.15 percent (or 2,284.8 GWh) generated at Rs1.073/unit, followed by hydel with 20.44 percent (1,720.4 GWh), coal-based power 18.1 percent (1,520.9 GWh) at Rs11.5/unit, natural gas 15.13 percent (1,273.8 GWh) at Rs10.5/unit, RLNG 13.7 percent (1,153.7 GWh) at Rs20.2/unit.

Besides, 0.46 percent (38.91 GWh) of expensive electricity was generated from furnace oil during December at Rs25.7971/unit. No electricity was generated from high-speed diesel. Wind power contributed 2.5 percent (or 211.6 GWh) of electricity to the national grid, and Bagasse-based power was 1.2 percent (101 GWh) at Rs5.97/unit, while solar-based energy’s contribution was 0.8 percent or 69.5GWh in December 2022.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1032293-nuclear-energy-becomes-top-electricity-source-for-pakistan

 

[daytrader]

Major power breakdown across Pakistan
Energy ministry assures system maintenance work 'progressing rapidly'; outage reported in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta

A major power breakdown hit the country early Monday morning, affecting multiple cities, such as, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Energy confirmed that according to initial reports, the system frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34am today, causing a widespread breakdown in the power system.

"System maintenance work is progressing rapidly," assured the ministry, adding that restoration of grid stations from Warsak has begun.

It informed that in the last hour, a limited number of grids of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) have been restored.

Taking to Twitter, K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana said that the electricity-providing company is "investigating the issue". According to reports, 90 per cent of Karachi has been affected.

The official Twitter account of PakWeather.com, Pakistan's first (Pvt) Automated Weather Stations Network, also reported a power outage in cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta.

According to the IESCO spokesman, the electricity supply to 117 IESCO grid stations has been suspended.

While no clear reason for the suspension has been given yet by the IESCO Region Control Centre, the company maintained that its "management is in constant communication with the concerned authorities".

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

PARLIAMENT OFFICES TO REMAIN CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS DUE TO ‘SHORT CIRCUIT’

Offices of National Assembly and Senate Secretariat will remain close for three days due to short circuit in the Parliament House building, ARY News reported.

Taking to Twitter, the Senate of Pakistan said that offices of National Assembly and Senate Secretariat have been closed for three days due to short circuit in the Parliament House building.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have ordered immediate precautionary measures while concerned secretaries have been directed to take steps for resolution of the issue.

As a consequence, Chairman of the upper house of parliament has called the sitting of the Senate earlier adjourned for Monday, the 23rd January, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. to meet on Thursday, the 26th January 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

ARY

 

[PakLFC]

I was expecting something like this so bad is the situation. The military must be mega alert in case the enemy tries to take advantage off this.

 

[Bewal Express]

PARLIAMENT OFFICES TO REMAIN CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS DUE TO ‘SHORT CIRCUIT’

Offices of National Assembly and Senate Secretariat will remain close for three days due to short circuit in the Parliament House building, ARY News reported.

Taking to Twitter, the Senate of Pakistan said that offices of National Assembly and Senate Secretariat have been closed for three days due to short circuit in the Parliament House building.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have ordered immediate precautionary measures while concerned secretaries have been directed to take steps for resolution of the issue.

As a consequence, Chairman of the upper house of parliament has called the sitting of the Senate earlier adjourned for Monday, the 23rd January, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. to meet on Thursday, the 26th January 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

ARY

And after the disaster of the regime change,and a dysfunctional parliament with crooks passing bills to legalise their crimes, it will will make no difference to the man on the street

 

[Major]

Driving in pitch darkness...

 

[Local.Dada]

I was expecting something like this so bad is the situation. The military must be mega alert in case the enemy tries to take advantage off this.

I would assume unless you are a keyboard warrior 1000s of miles away, the first concern would be electricity, gas etc etc before the wheels start spinning about India and Kashmir. Those topics are usually left to when the stomach is full.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan has suffered a nationwide power outage due to a technical fault that left large swaths of the country, including the capital Islamabad, without electricity.

In a statement on Twitter, the energy ministry said the system frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34am (02:34 GMT) on Monday morning.

“System maintenance work is progressing rapidly,” the tweet added.

Power minister Khurram Dastgir Khan told a local TV channel that the national grid switches off power generation units temporarily at night during the winter to save fuel costs.

“However, this morning, when the systems were turned on at 7:30am one by one, frequency variation was reported in the southern part of the country between Jamshoro and Dadu,” he said, referring to the two towns in the southern Sindh province.

“There was a fluctuation in voltage and power generating units were shut down one by one due to cascading impact. This is not a major crisis,” he said.

Khan said restoration work could take up to 12 hours, adding that a limited number of power grids are back on. But officials Al Jazeera talked to refused to comment on when the outage will be over.

Muhammed Pervez, a 54-year-old resident of Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, said his ailing father had been waiting for more than an hour to see a doctor as the power outage had shut down the electronic systems at a private clinic.

“Some bigger hospitals do have generators to support but for a smaller place, even getting a token for patient consultancy is taking time since everything is being done manually,” he told Al Jazeera.

Kamran Arshad, managing director of a Lahore-based textile company, said he had to shut his factory on Monday due to the power outage.

“We operate on 40 percent gas and 60 percent electricity but there is already a gas shortage, and with the power outage today, our factory operations are closed down for the day,” he said.

Pakistan electricity
A man sits outside his shop during a nationwide power breakdown in Karachi [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]
Arshad, who is also a senior official of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, said the losses incurred due to the outage could be worth billions.

“Our own loss for one day of non-production is more than 20 million Pakistani rupees ($87,000). Across the industry, losses due to this breakdown are probably in billions of rupees,” he told Al Jazeera.

An official at Islamabad-based public hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), said the hospital had to switch off its operation theatres due to the electricity breakdown.

However, officials at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), one of the largest public hospitals in Pakistan, said the outage would not affect work.

“We have ample backup which can allow us to work for more than five days uninterrupted,” JPMC spokesman Jahangir Durrani told Al Jazeera.

The power outage in the country of more than 220 million people came amid an ongoing economic crisis.

Earlier this month, the government passed a directive, asking markets and shopping centres to close by 8:30pm in order to save energy amid an escalating fuel crisis. However, the appeal was ignored.

This is the second time in the last four months that Pakistan was hit by a major power breakdown. The outage in October lasted for more than 12 hours and mainly affected the southern parts of the country.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/23/pakistan-hit-by-nationwide-power-outage-after-grid

 

[Syed1]

Although this effects all Pakistanis but I pray to God that those who cheered on this corrupt mix achaar of PDM are the most effected and have the greatest inconvenience Ameen.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Major power breakdown across Pakistan
Energy ministry assures system maintenance work 'progressing rapidly'; outage reported in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta

A major power breakdown hit the country early Monday morning, affecting multiple cities, such as, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

In a tweet, the Ministry of Energy confirmed that according to initial reports, the system frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34am today, causing a widespread breakdown in the power system.

"System maintenance work is progressing rapidly," assured the ministry, adding that restoration of grid stations from Warsak has begun.

It informed that in the last hour, a limited number of grids of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) have been restored.

Taking to Twitter, K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana said that the electricity-providing company is "investigating the issue". According to reports, 90 per cent of Karachi has been affected.

The official Twitter account of PakWeather.com, Pakistan's first (Pvt) Automated Weather Stations Network, also reported a power outage in cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta.

According to the IESCO spokesman, the electricity supply to 117 IESCO grid stations has been suspended.

While no clear reason for the suspension has been given yet by the IESCO Region Control Centre, the company maintained that its "management is in constant communication with the concerned authorities".

Express Tribune

This shameless energy minister is saying 'its not a major breakdown' while the whole country has plunged into darkness. "Just a little frequency variation", he says. Frequency variation happens due to difference between generation and demand. They most likely shutdown some generation plant, hence this blackout.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Power Outage Across Pak, Major Cities Including Islamabad, Karachi Hit

Pakistan suffered country-wide power cuts early on Monday due to a major breakdown in its national grid, the federal energy ministry said.

"According to initial information, at about 7:34 AM (local time) today, the National Grid experienced a loss of frequency, that caused a major breakdown. A swift work is on to revive the system," the ministry said in a statement.

Power was out in all major cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar.

A frequency variation was reported in the southern part of the country between the cities of Jamshoro and Dadu when systems were turned on on Monday morning, power minister Khurrum Dastagir told Geo TV channel.

"There was a fluctuation in voltage and the systems were shut down one by one. This is not a major crisis," Dastagir said.

Some grids in the country had already been restored, the minister added.

NDTV

 

[Kianig89]

Still no electricity our business lost 120k due to this shame on PDM

 

[Varun]

If Pakistanis still sit inside their homes after 24 hours of no power without protesting against the powers that be, they have no soul.

 

[shortbread]

I was expecting something like this so bad is the situation. The military must be mega alert in case the enemy tries to take advantage off this.

The way things are, what enemy could have done any worse?

 

[saeedhk]

If Pakistanis still sit inside their homes after 24 hours of no power without protesting against the powers that be, they have no soul.

Pakistanis have no soul. 24 hours is nothing, even if there is no power for 24 years, nobody would stand up and protest.

 

[Bewal Express]

Driving in pitch darkness...

Sounds like your govt.

 

[Cricket-lion]

Major and Mamoon should give us an explanation of this incompetence of their PDM government. Thickest govt in the world may be.

 

[RajBan]

If Pakistanis still sit inside their homes after 24 hours of no power without protesting against the powers that be, they have no soul.

It's winter, so may be manageable . Had it been peak summers, would have surely resulted in more protests

 

[offstump]

PDM’s own hit wicket here with their idiotic policy to conserve electricity completely backfired. They couldn’t boot the system back up when demand peaked during daytime.

This is unquestionably the most idiotic cast of characters ever put in charge of anything. They would screw up a cup of coffee.

 

[Major]

Sounds like your govt.

its better not to talk because last year similar thing happened under PTI in 2021

 

[Major]

PTI fans have a memory of a goldfish and would take every oppurtunity to score political points.

Anyways, thankfully i live in Pakistan so I remember the time when something similar happened under PTI govt

 

[wasim-fan]

Pretty shocking. And Chinese equipment. This is the third time in 3 years if I am not mistaken. What is the reason for this ?

 

[Major]

PDM’s own hit wicket here with their idiotic policy to conserve electricity completely backfired. They couldn’t boot the system back up when demand peaked during daytime.

This is unquestionably the most idiotic cast of characters ever put in charge of anything. They would screw up a cup of coffee.

what? how did demand peaked at 7:00 am in the morning? No office here opens at 7:00 am unless its a call center which usually have change of shifts at that hour..

Our grid system is not perfect. It has nothing to do with pdm. What did PDM do? Sell of electricity of one day to Afghanistan?

Its funny how there are overseas Pakistanis that are waiting to see Pakistan fail and destroy. You lot are worst than Indians..... JUst want to see the country fail only to say look what PDM did.

The national grid issue has had such faults, we have lost electricity completely in 2015, and than in 2021 aswell during imran's govt aswel. Infact, didnt he claim he made dams? Yeh where is the electricity than?

Whats even more hilarious is that posters sitting overseas coming up with theories that there was a peak in demand at 7;00 am
Some thinking Pakistan would be attacked... Like even enemy need light to locate a target to hit.

Anyways, electricity came back 4 hours ago. I understand many of you overseas would be disappointed by this news.

We Pakistanis living in this country will vote for ever we like, and you guys cant do anything about it. And we will do a VONC and throw anyone from the PM seat who we see as terrible!