Ministry of Water and Power has acknowledged that the electricity shortfall exceeded 5000MW which compelled the government to opt for forced load-shedding. A spokesperson of Water and Power Ministry said that some units of IPPs and GENCOs experienced unforeseen technical outages resulting in lesser power generation to the tune of 1260MW.
The power plants units where forced outages occurred due to unforeseen technical faults are; (i) Hubco unit 4 300 MW;(ii) liberty power 200 MW;(iii) Engro 200 MW ;(iv) Muzaffargarh unit 3 (180MW), Lakhra (30MW);(v) Halmore (200 MW) and ;(vi) Guddu747 (150MW).
In order to manage the power position, normal load management of 6 hours for urban, 8 hours for rural and zero load shedding for industries is being carried out in the country, according to a spokesperson of Water and Power Ministry. Mix industry (which is supplied power from mixed feeders) is witnessing 4 hours of load management. Areas with higher losses and theft have different load management schedule based on their percentage of losses.
The higher demand due to heat wave and technical outages of few units of IPPs and Genco's is being managed by the distribution companies through effective monitoring and other measures, the spokesperson added.
Water and Power Ministry further stated that currently the country was witnessing a severe heat wave which was unprecedented and had resulted in sharp increase in demand of electricity.
Hydel power generation remained low in September and to continue downward trend in October as compared to August due to lower releases from dams due to demand of provinces.
Repair work on units of IPPs and GENCO's is already in progress and efforts are being made to bring these units on line as soon as possible. Officials of the Ministry are in constant touch with these plants' administration to expedite the repair work, the spokesperson maintained.
To save the system, the NPCC may conduct unannounced load shedding in some areas if the electricity demand further rises, he said appealing to the consumers to adopt energy conservation measures and lower energy usage as the current position might continue for a couple of days till the plants were back on the system. The Ministry highly regretted the inconvenience being caused to the consumers.