The Karachiites had to endure 10 to 12 hours long power outages on Tuesday, which paralysed both economic and routine activities in the city. According to KESC officials, the breakdown resulted mainly from damage to a pylon of 132-KV transmission line near Hub which was blown up by some miscreants planting explosive devices late on Monday night.
Following the incident, supply of some 120 MW was suspended to KESC from the major IPP, Tapal, which could not be restored till filing of this report. Meanwhile, one generating unit of Bin Qasim Power Station had also gone out of bar on Tuesday. This made the power crisis of the city more severe. The Unit No 4 was generating some 180 MW before its closure, the KESC officials said, adding that they were forced to close the unit due its malfunctioning.
KESC officials said that the company's engineers were working on both sites and the damaged pylon would be replaced in the next two or three days. However, they were reluctant to give a completion date of the maintenance work being carried out at the closed unit of BQPS.
Following the closure of the unit and suspension of supply from Tapal, the city witnessed the worst power outages on Tuesday as the difference between demand and supply of electricity exceeded 550 MW.
The KESC carried out 10-12 hours long load shedding on rotational basis in almost all residential areas of the city. However, the duration of load shedding remained less and the company carried out four to six hours' duration load shedding in the areas that hosted the major economic activities of the city.
The KESC officials expressed fear that the load shedding might be continued during the next few days till restoration of supply from Tapal and the closed generating unit of BQPS.
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