The energy task force, headed by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, has made it clear to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) that gas quota for thermal power projects would not be enhanced beyond the limit.
"The improvement in the de-rated thermal energy efficiency and installation of new plants should remain within the existing window of gas allocation," sources quoted from the task force meeting decision recently.
The representative of Pakistan Electrical Power Company (Pepco) apprised the meeting that power planning cell, comprising officials from Pepco, Wapda, NTDC, PPIB and other relevant agencies has already been established.
In this regard a draft demand load forecast up to 2008-10 has been prepared and would be submitted to concerned agencies after internal review.
The taskforce, sources said, observed that figures of Wapda/Pepco were not found consistent on various occasions, stressing the need for necessary coordination among various departments.
The task force inquired whether provision for reserves margins of 20 percent has been taken into account while forecasting the future power capacity demand.
Pepco Managing Director Munawar Baseer Ahmad informed the meeting that some provisions have been made for the reserve margins but the exact percentage of reserve margins was not provided.
Sources said that the task force was informed that in the light of the decisions already taken various efforts were put on to improve the de-rated energy efficiency and installation of new plants. Thus additional electricity capacity of 5,560 MW would be available, including rental power: 760 MW by June 2008, public sector power plants: 2359 and private sector plants: 2541 MW by 2010. Resultantly, the electricity crisis in the country would be overcome by 2010.
The task force, however, observed that Wapda''s thermal power program should remain within the existing window of gas allocation.
While updating on procurement of new transformers from local manufacturers, Wapda representative said that due to the weak financial conditions of Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) the utility was facing problems in the supply of electro-mechanical equipment to enhance the dispersal of power from generating stations to load centres.
The opening of an escrow account was considered appropriate to facilitate HEC.
The task force was also informed that by taking load management measures during the crisis period, 1000MW during peak hours would be saved by reducing in industrial load (400 MW) switching of street light points (30 MW), switching of billboards (20 MW) closure of shopping plazas after 08.00 pm (300MW) staggering of industrial holidays (100MW) and installing Time of Day (TOD) meters for tube wells (150 MW). It was observed by the task force that with the closure of shopping plaza at 8.00 pm the economic activities of the country would be affected, which needed to be reviewed.
However, a meeting held on Friday with caretaker Prime Minister Muhammedmian Soomro in the chair decided that all businesses would be closed by 7 pm.