The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is in serious trouble as the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) has expressed inability to provide gas for its rented power projects, although according to agreement it is bound to pay $15 million every month as rent without getting even a single megawatt electricity.
Source said the Petroleum Ministry officials had conveyed to the task force on energy here the other day that Wapda had signed agreements with private sector rental companies for getting additional 285 MW power recently, assuming that it would be in a position to provide them gas on priority basis.
However, things are totally different now as, with additional demand of domestic sector with the change in weather, it is totally helpless to secure more gas for Wapda's rental projects as long as the weather remains bitter and domestic sector requirement remains at peak.
The meeting was informed that as per policy, the government gives priority to the domestic sector for gas supply in winter season to help it beat the cold, which usually begins from mid-December and ends in mid-February. For this period, SSGC and SNGPL suspend gas supply to industrial and commercial consumers.
The task force had held a meeting to find some solution to the worsening power crisis. The meeting was attended by officials of the Ministries of Petroleum and Water and Power, Wapda, KESC, Pepco and other power and gas-related different government departments.
Wapda is facing huge power shortfall and, with each passing day, the gap in power demand and supply is on the rise. This situation has forced Wapda to go for massive load-shedding. The government is making efforts to save whatever power is possible and utilise it prudently and lessen intensity of load-shedding.
The task force was informed that load-shedding would continue for some more weeks as the system is facing a shortage of 4500 MW electricity. However, its duration might start decreasing from mid-January when situation of furnace oil supply to thermal power projects would improve.
Wapda has signed agreements with at least two companies for rented power projects, claiming that these projects would provide it additional 285 MW power on fast track basis. Since Wapda's financial health in not very good, the payments for the rented projects without getting any power would doubtlessly add to its woes.