Resumption of water flow in canals is delayed until January 31, and the load shedding would continue for another few weeks in the country, said the sources in Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) on Thursday. It may be noted that canals were scheduled to resume normal flow of water by 22nd January. However, no such intimation was conveyed to PEPCO until the evening of scheduled date.
Pakistan is passing through severe power shortage since canals were closed in the country. Both the commercial and domestic consumers have suffered heavily due to the unprecedented power load- shedding. Particularly, the commercial sector has witnessed abnormal increase in cost because of the forced closure of power for long hours.
Sources however, hoped that 10,000 cusec water is likely to be released through Mangla dam from 26th January onward that would ease pressure on power generation. The PEPCO sources further pointed out that the country was experiencing a power shortage of 1,700 MW at present and the actual available load in the country is 11,200 MW.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt on good authority that the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (CHASHNUP) is not fully operational yet and it is generating very minimal electricity against actual capacity of 300 MW.
According to the sources, the canals resumption may further be delayed in the country and any such situation would hamper hydel generation in the country, which is a major sources of power generation in the country. They have mentioned that the concerned authorities have not intimated them officially, as to when the canals would resume water flows. However, they added, it is presumed by PEPCO officials that canals would start operations by the end of the current month.