Shortage of gas: textile industry asked to maintain current power load during winter

Power distribution companies have started issuing notices to the textile industry, asking it to maintain current power load during the coming months when there will be acute gas shortage, sources said here on Thursday.
The sources said that Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (Fesco) and Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) had sent notices to the textile industry, operating in their jurisdiction, while other distribution companies (Discos), including Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco), would soon intimate the industry.
According to the notice, average load consumption of textile units would be calculated on the basis of power used during the last six months - April to September. Hence, the textile units were asked to maintain last six months' average when there would be gas shortage, i. e from November 2008 to April 2009.
The Fesco clearly mentioned that in case of excessive use of power load, electricity supply to textile units would be disconnected from grid stations without issuing any further notices. The Fesco and Mepco regions are the hubs of weaving industry in the country, while majority of spinning units are running in Lesco region. Power outages in the wake of unavailability of gas would increase losses of the textile industry.
On the other hand, most of the textile value-added industry is also operating in these two regions, which generates power by using gas as a fuel. In the past when gas was not available to the textile industry, it used electricity supply from the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) system. However, this year due to power crisis, smooth supply of electricity may be ensured to other small and medium cottage industries, which only depend on Wapda.
If the Wapda does not disconnect power supply to the textile sector, it will be compelled to resort to cut in electricity supply to other small industries. The Federal government has promised to ensure smooth gas supply to the textile industry, which comes to around 200 million cubic feet per day, but a final decision has not been taken so far.
Despite the government's assurance, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) informed the textile industry that smooth gas supply would not be ensured during winter months. Power generation efficiency of textile units is 38 per cent, which is higher than the Wapda's 27 per cent. On the other hand, Wapda also faces around 12 per cent line losses, which reduces net efficiency to 15 per cent.