The power shortfall has reached 3,000MW with supply cut of furnace oil to thermal units, including Independent Power Projects (IPPs). According to sources, the federal minister for power has directed the Pepco to stop power supply to industry immediately and divert it to domestic sector. As a result, the unannounced industry load shedding has reached to eight hours against announced load shedding of four hours a day.
It may be noted that power generation had touched 10,500MW with supply of fuel to thermal units after an announcement of end of load shedding by the federal minister for water and power on the floor of Parliament. However, this hope proved short-lived and country has plunged again into dark with short supply of fuel to PSO. Earlier, it was learnt that a change of guard at the Ministry of Finance resulted into delay in payment to PSO for fuel supply. Meanwhile, the gas supply to the power plants has also affected due to cold spell in the country. Sources said that no immediate change of the situation is likely, as fuel supply would be in doldrums for another few days.