The increasing inflow of water in Tarbela Dam would enable Wapda to generate power to its full capacity (6400 mw) within a fortnight, Wapda Chairman Tariq Hameed said. Talking to a private TV channel, he said the Wapda was currently generating 5500 MW power through hydel source.
Commenting on reasons for load management, he said nowadays the power generation and demand was almost equal. All 700 grids of Wapda were not loaded uniformly. About 50 to 60 over loaded grids are occasionally closed in peak hours aiming to reduce their temperature. Grids are started again on normalisation of temperature, he said.
The difference between purchase and sale price of the organisation was Rs 37 billion. "We urged government to pay Wapda Rs 6 billion for one year in a bid to overcome losses," he said. Wapda has not increased its tariff since September 2003. In this period input cost has increased immensely. Wapda has decreased its losses up to three percent.
Currently, the losses were averaging up to 21 percent. All the additional electricity demand of 1,000 to 1,200 MW during this year was being met by 15 independent power producers (IPPs), which are producing power on almost to full capacity. Gas prices also increased by 41 percent during this year and the additional price is being endured by Wapda. The input cost has increased tremendously.
According to an agreement, Wapda was bound to supply fuel oil to IPPs at fixed rate of Rs 3,000 per ton. The prices of fuel oil have already jumped to Rs 26,000 per ton, he said, adding that per ton losses of Rs 23,000 being endured by Wapda. Replying to a question regarding the power scarcity in Karachi, he said newly constructed Hubco-Karachi link could be handed over to the same company managing power supply to the city, he added.