Nepra to inquire into unscheduled load shedding in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has established a high level committee following 10 hours unscheduled load shedding in Karachi to investigate the matter.

Different parts of Karachi have been suffering from rampant load shedding causing uproar among the citizens.

Taking serious notice of the matter the power regulator has directed K-Electric, the utility responsible for the electricity supply in the port city, to submit a detailed report on the issue.

Prior to this, the clarifications by K-Electric were found unsatisfactory leading Nepra to form a high-level committee to visit Karachi and inquire into the matter, said Nepra’s spokesman.

The committee constitutes of five members includes Hasnain Zegham, senior advisor technical, Masood Akhter, DG consultant (M&E), Hafiz Irfan Ahmad, senior advisor (standards), Hasnain Gohar, AD (Technical), Junaid Ahmad, AD (Standards-II).

The committee will visit K-Electric from April 11 to April 13, to investigate the matter of extended load shedding during the unbearably hot weather.

As the temperature rises in Karachi, the supply-demand gap of K-Electric increased which resulted in increased load shedding in different parts of the city.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has written a couple of letters to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the issue, urging him to direct the SSGCL for the provision of 190 MMCFD gas to K-Electric, but the issue was not resolved. Instead of 190 MMCFD of gas, SSGCL was providing only 90 MMCFD to K-Electric which has resulted in reduction in power generation by 500 MW.

According to K-Electric Spokesperson, “the company has demanded 100 MMCFD gas as the summer arrived to meet the rising summer power demand, but the gas utility is providing only 90 MMCFD which is far less than their demand. They have made every effort to resolve the issue and contacted Chief Minister Sindh and governor Sindh in this regard. The K-Electric also held meeting with CM Sindh which was also attended by SSGCL officials. In the meeting with the chief minister Sindh, the SSGCL demanded of the company to sign a gas supply agreement (GSA) and clearance of the outstanding dues.”

“We are also willing to discuss a payment plan to settle outstanding dues of Rs 13.7 billion. Any other disputed amounts regarding LPS and interest that are sub-judice should not be included here. We are taking all possible measures so a required level of gas supply is restored and we can bring the power supply situation in Karachi back to routine,” the spokesperson said.