Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, (KESC) Frank Scherschmidt, has said that power generating capacity will be increased by 780 MW after commissioning of two new upcoming units by July 2008.
Addressing members of Site Association of Industry (SAI) on Wednesday, he said that 220 MW Korangi power units is expected to be commissioned by August 2007 and another 560 MW unit at Bin Qasim is likely to be commissioned by July 2008. He said that besides this, around 80 MW power supply will be added from desalination plant coming up at DHA.
The CEO said that yet another 1,000 nuclear power generating unit coming up at Kanupp is likely to be commissioned by 2015. He said at present KESC getting a total of 2,439 MW powers supply from different sources including Kanupp, Wapda, IPPs, and its own power generating units. Whereas total demand in peak season of summer is expected to be around 2,500 MW which shows a shortfall of round 61 MW. He assured the business community that power shortage would be met and there would be no load shedding during summer in the industrial areas.
The CEO said that the KESC has planned to close down 42-year- old Korangi power generating units, as it has become a junk. He said that intensive repair and maintenance work has been carried out at power generating units that have improved their efficiency.
He said that 900 transformers have been replaced and around 1,000 more will be replaced in the near future, network has been improved to improve transmission and distribution. He said that power demand is increasing at the rate of 8 percent per year in the city.
Whereas during winter power consumption dropped by 600 MW as air-conditioners remain off. Welcoming the guests, Chairman, SAI, Imran Shaukat highlighted the problems faced by industrialists in getting news connections, enhancing load, multiple meters in one premise, B2-ROD meters etc.