Textile industry has entered the month of March with a dismal hope for sustained energy supply for 24/7 production spell. The industry circles told Business Recorder that power supply to industry is facing acute shortage with daily two hours loadshedding to prime users, followed by four hours to non-prime users and six hours to those on remote feeders.
So far as gas supply is concerned, they added, resumption of five days a week gas supply is fast turning into a dream, as gas supply to industry is yet restricted to twice a week with a meager hope of thrice a week for three zones in Punjab. It may be noted that the textile industry had attached high hopes so far as energy supply with the start of March is concerned.
The industry sources said weather improvement is in the offing but sharing of gas supply to Fertilizer and other players has subtracted the possible resumption of five days a week gas supply to textile industry. It is worth noting that an important meeting of SNGPL officials held to decide the fate of different segments of industry so far as gas supply is concerned from March onwards.
The textile industry has already faced gas suspension for 172 days during last calendar year. It happened for first time that textile industry faced gas shortage during summer last year. Similarly, power generation is under pressure failing to meet industry demand. Sources said power generation on Monday was even worst with 2000MW hydel and 7000MW thermal generation, leaving 50 percent generation capacity due to one or the other reason. It may be noted that the system has a capacity to generate 6000MW hydel and 14000MW thermal generation.
However, water level at Tarbela has reached to dead level and situation would be improved only after 15th April when water would reach to the dam. Similarly, thermal generation has failed to fill the gap despite arrangement for payment of Rs 157 billion to the PSO for outstanding against supply of furnace oil.
Textile industry circles have pointed out that 40 percent capacity of the industry is idle due to the adverse circumstances and more is likely to be added ahead. They said energy shortage would push more and more units to the category of sick units, as it is difficult to pay high mark-up bank dues.
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