The prolonged power outages in Karachi continued for the seventh consecutive day on Saturday, as Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) failed to supply uninterrupted power to consumers.
Meanwhile, the KESC sources said power crisis in the city might continue till the first unit of the newly established Korangi power plant would be operational in October, while 220MW power would be available from this plant in April next year.
However, the KESC, already hit hard by faults at the Korangi thermal power plant, further faced a shortfall of 80 MW from KANUP, which has not yet restored power supply even four days.
As a result, the acute power shortage of more than 100MW has hit the metropolis on Saturday, making the citizens to suffer most throughout the day. "The failure of KESC administration in restoring power supply from Korangi thermal power plant and from KANUP is the major reason behind the ongoing electricity crisis", said the KESC sources.
"It takes 72 hours after removal of fault from KANUP to supply power to KESC, but even after four days, the KANUP could not be able to supply power to KESC", they added. Several areas of the city, including Hassan Square, Liaquatabad, North Karachi, Landhi, Korangi, Agra Taj Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Sohrab Goth, Lyari, Nazimabad, are facing prolonged power breakdowns. According to the KESC sources, power crisis in city might continue till the start of the first unit of newly established Korangi power plant by October.
Sources said that the first unit of 50MW of Korangi Power plant would start work from October, while 220MW power would be available from this plant in April, 2008.
This plant would consist of four units of which three units would work through gas, while one on steam, they said, adding that power demand in Karachi was 2350MW and after completion of this power plant, the KESC would overcome this problem.