The profit of Hub Power Company (Hubco) for the first quarter ended September 30 posted an increase of almost 7 percent because of higher sales and lower financing cost. Turnover of the company during the period amounted to Rs 4.306 billion and operating costs were Rs 2.457 billion.
These figures are higher compared to the corresponding period last year when the company reported a turnover of Rs 3.295 billion and operating cost of Rs 1.406 billion. The increase was mainly due to higher load factor.
The net profit for the quarter was Rs 1.37 billion, resulting in earning of Rs 1.18 per share, compared with Rs 1.276 billion, or Rs 1.10 per share of the corresponding period last year.
The company, in a faxed statement to the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE), said that during the quarter, the power plant generated 498GWh of electricity resulting in a load factor of 19 percent. On September 30, the station completed 2,024 days without accident.
Unit No. 4, which had been out of service due to a generator fault since April 18, 2004, returned back to full operation on October 10, 2004. Unit No. 1, is on scheduled annual maintenance.
Presently, three units are fully operational and 900mw out of a total of 1,200mw net generation capacity is available for dispatch to company's customer, Wapda.
In order to ensure long-term integrity and highest availability of the plant, an annual maintenance and overhaul programme is carried out on the power plant in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations.
During this year's major overhaul on Unit No. 1, a few turbine blades were found to require replacement. The company had already ordered a full set of spare turbine blades. These are being manufactured. The company is endeavouring for advance delivery so that this unit can return to service as soon as possible.