Mangla hydel power units resume production

The closed Mangla hydel power generation units resumed production of 250 megawatt, much needed electricity after Indus River System Authority (Irsa) released 25,000 cusecs water from the Mangla Dam on Tuesday. Director General, Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), Tahir Basharat Cheema told Business Recorder that load-shedding situation has improved with enhanced water releases from Tarbela and Mangla dams.
Since the hydel power stations are generating about 2000 to 2500 MW, the current shortfall in the supply and demand has come down to manageable 1500 MW, he added. Pepco had started six to eight-hour countrywide load shedding on 21st March after Tarbela Dam touched its dead level and water releases from Mangla Dam on river Jhelum were stopped which forced closing down of Mangla hydel power generating unit. Cheema said that addition of about 800 MW electricity to the national grid, load shedding hours would be reduced now, bringing great relief of the industrial, commercial and domestic consumers.