The Managing Director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pvt) Ltd (Pepco), Tahir Basharat Cheema, has claimed that 70 percent electricity has been restored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and, according to initial reports, the estimated cost of damage to electricity installations throughout the country is Rs 3 billion, out of which Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) alone has suffered a loss of Rs 2100 million.
He stated this in a meeting here on Sunday, convened in view of the grave flood situation prevailing in the country.
He said that 95 percent of electricity has been restored in all distribution companies. The details of the systems and equipment reported to have been damaged include 132 Kv grid stations, 132 Kv transmission lines, 66 Kv grid stations, 66 Kv transmission lines, distribution transformers, 11 kv lines, LT lines , PVC cable and energy meters.
The Pepco MD said he remained in touch with the chief executives of all distribution companies throughout the day and issued instructions, from time to time. He said he instructed them to take all necessary measures to ensure early restoration of electricity supply. He also inquired from the chief executives about welfare of the staff, status of grid stations, transmission lines, distribution transformers, LT lines, PVC cable and energy meters, and to submit a detailed assessment of damage.
He told the participants of the meeting that the distribution companies were complying with the instructions firmed up in the flood contingency of plan of June 14, 2010 wherein Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were communicated to all distribution companies in case of an emergency. Some of the measures included composition of crew at combat centres, provision of essential material and transport and nomination of focal persons.
The people attending the meeting expressed satisfaction at the safety measures being taken by the technical staff undertaking restoration work and were relieved to learn that despite the fact that they were working in hazardous circumstances there was no reported loss of life of any employee of discos.
The Pepco Managing Director said he has issued instructions to all distribution companies to place their reserve essential material and staff at the disposal of Pesco so that efforts to restore electricity in the remaining areas can be accelerated.
Cheema also held a meeting with Federal Minister for Water and Power Parvez Ashraf and submitted a detailed report to apprise him of the situation.
Ashraf directed him to make all-out efforts to restore electricity in the remaining areas as early as possible. Cheema assured the Minister that all discos were working round the clock and that every possible effort was being made to restore normalcy in flood affected areas.