Loadsheding in Karachi will end in 48 hours: KE

KARACHI: The K-Electric (KE) has assured Sindh Governor Imran Ismail that it would end load-shedding in Karachi during the next 48 hours.

sources said the development came after the federal government promised to provide an additional supply of gas and furnace oil to the power company.

The assurances were given to Governor Sindh Imran Ismail by CEO KE Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi in a meeting held today at the Governor House.

https://twitter.com/GovernorSindh33/status/1276490700599762949

The development could bring a sigh of relief for the Karachiites who were facing immense difficulties due to intermittent but incessant power outages in the sweltering summer for the past few days.

The power issue has exacerbated the water shortage problem in the metropolis as many people cannot operate their pumping machines in the absence of electricity.

“Loadshedding will start reducing after 24 hours and will end in next 48 hrs,” Govorner Ismail said after the meeting and added that the federal government will provide additional furnace oil to the KE.

He said that additional gas up to 100 mm CFD from the Sui Southern Gas Company will be provided to the KE to ease the pressure of furnace oil shortage.

Fed Govt to provide addl furnace oil to KE through HUBCO/PSO. Moreover, an addl 500 MW electricity to KE in addition to 650 MW can not be utilized because of non-upgradation of system to handle. Loadshedding will start reducing after after 24 hours and will end in next 48 hrs.

— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) June 26, 2020

Governor Ismail said that due to “non-up-gradation of [the] system”, the company is unable to utilize 500MW of electricity in addition to 650 MW being provided from the national grid. The CEO KE has been directed to ensure the up-gradation of their system, he said.

CEO KE directed to ensure upgradation of their system. Additional gas upto 100 mmcfd from SSGC to ease pressure of furnace oil shortage.

— Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) June 26, 2020

Meanwhile, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has taken serious notice of media reports regarding the unscheduled load shedding by the power distribution companies (DISCOs).

According to a press release issued by the power regulatory authority, “NEPRA has taken serious notice of various media reports regarding unscheduled load shedding of up to 12 hours by all the Distribution Companies (DISCOs), due to which the public is suffering heavily in this current wave of heat, especially in the areas under lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.”

The authority said that DISCOs under the relevant provisions of their licenses are obligated to provide uninterrupted and reliable power supply to the consumers.

Furthermore, all power distribution companies have been directed to take immediate remedial steps to minimize the load shedding and also submit a detailed inquiry report to NEPRA in this regard.