Present spell of zero load shedding would come to an end from the last week of December when provinces go for annual canal closure, resulting in substantial reduction in hydropower generation The power consumers, therefore, would have no option but to experience five to eight hours of electricity load shedding again.
It may be noted that Sindh would close down Kotri canal on December 26 followed by Sukkur on January 6. Meanwhile, canals in Punjab would remain closed for annual maintenance between December 25 and January 31. As a result, the hydropower generation, which currently hovers around 5300MW will fall drastically to about 2000MW for about 40 days.
Interestingly, Punjab industrial sectors including textile are already facing worst load shedding on gas supply to their units. They are meeting gas shortage with uninterrupted supply of electricity to their units. However, the worst has yet to come when power load shedding would also add fuel to fire from last week of December onward. Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) sources said the thermal production would remain static at about 1500-2000MW for short of furnace oil and ongoing rehabilitation programme.
Similarly, gas supplies to the power sector are unlikely to increase in winter months because of increased consumption in the domestic sector. Meanwhile, gap between power demand and supply started rising again. Power generation during last 24 hours remained 11055MW against a demand of 11485MW, causing a difference of 403MW. Hydel generation stood at 5275MW, followed by 1437MW of thermal, 4281MW of IPPs and 62MW of RPPs. Meanwhile, supply to KESC remained 700MW.