ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has directed the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) managing director to conduct a detailed inquiry of transmission line towers’ collapse along with the IPPs, circuits/Discos affected.

In a letter to the NTDC Managing Director, Rana Abdul Jabbar, Additional Director General NEPRA Iftikhar Ali has stated that it was brought to the knowledge of the authority that the following tripping incidents occurred in the area of Kashmore; (i) tripping of 500kV Guddu-Shikarpur-II T/Line at 23:18 hrs on May 29, 2023 (collapse of Tower No.676 due to heavy windstorm storm/rainfall);(ii) tripping of 220kV Guddu-Shikarpur-J/Guddu-Sibbi T/Line at 23:32 hrs on May 29, 2023 (collapse of tower No. 122, 123, 124,and 125 due to heavy windstorm storm/rainfall); (iii) tripping of 220kV Guddu-Shikarpur-/Guddu-Sibbi T/Line at 23:32 hrs on May 29, 2023 (collapse of Tower No 154 and 155 due to heavy windstorm storm/rainfall) and;(iv) tripping of 220kV Guddu-Shikarpur-/Guddu-Sibbi T/Line at 17:12 hrs on May 23, 2023 (collapse of Tower No 64 due to heavy windstorm storm/rainfall).

According to the Nepra, as per Section 18 of the Nepra Act, the NTDC is responsible (inter-alia) to operate and provide safe, reliable transmission and interconnection services and the Authority has raised its concerns over the repeated trend of collapsing towers due to heavy windstorm/rain and sabotage activity with the NTDC at numerous times.

The authority is now of the considered opinion that the repeated trend of tower collapse (500kV/220kV) raises a serious question mark over the performance of the NTDC and its concerned departments which constitutes a violation of the Grid Code, Performance Standards (Transmission) Rules, 2005 and NEPRA Act.

In view thereof, the NEPRA has directed the NTDCMD to conduct a detailed inquiry having representation from design, planning, AM/GSO, EHV/construction and civil formations indicating, therein, the root cause analysis, financial impact, reasons justification behind collapse of towers of this subject T/Line along with details of IPPs/Ckts/ DISCOs affected, tripping/restoration time, and action taken by the NTDC to avoid tower collapses due to heavy rain.

The NEPRA in its letter written on July 12, 2023, has directed the NTDC that the report be submitted within 30 days, without any delay.

The NTDC managing director has also been directed to enquire about the reasons behind the delay in implementation of the revised T/Line Security SOP and also bring forth concrete foolproof strategy/plan to deal with the repeated trend of tower collapse of T/Lines.

Moreover, approved copy of T/Line Security SOP by the BoD of NTDC along with the inquiry report be submitted to the NEPRA.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023