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KESC CEO warns of bad summer

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: Three hours of long load shedding has been taking place daily. The power generation by Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) was 850 MW Friday but power demand was 1800 MW, sources told Daily Times.

KESC CEO Syed Muhammad Amjad warned of a deadly spell in the summer and regretted what he referred to as the government’s lack of interest since the privatization of the utility. He said this while speaking to businessmen and industrialists at a local hotel late Thursday night.

There was a shortage of power ranging from 200 MW to 300 MW last year which can escalate if WAPDA fails to feed KESC with 700 MW this year, informed Amjad. Industries consume 600 MW and 24 MW is being used by street lamps. In summers, about 700 MW is consumed by fans and air conditioners.

The entire load of the power supply is on 52 grid stations. Nine more grid stations will be completed in a maximum of 13 months, while the power supply is also said to increase to 780 MW. The power generation situation will improve in March after the commencement of power from 2 units (85 MW each), 60 MW more will be added from the improvement of sick units and 80 MW will be added by the DHA plant, briefed Amjad.

It was agreed in the meeting that a committee comprising members from the business community will be initiated under the leadership of Zubair Moti Waala. The committee will suggest concrete measures for overcoming the power crisis.

There are many reasons for the power outage, like the shut down of already existing KESC power generation units at different sites such as Bin Qasim and Korangi. The discontinuation of power from the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) and Defense Housing Authority (DHA) power plant has also increased the ongoing paucity at KESC’s end.

KANUPP spokesperson Tariq Rasheed had told Daily Times that the power plants power supply was suspended from December 30, 2007 after the tripping of the power plant due to KESC’s negligence. On January 1, 2008, the KANUPP had tripped due to flaws in the second available line following which the PNRA had directed the KANUPP to suspend the power supply. The supply was once again restored on January 3 but the plant tripped again on January 14.

The DHA power plant supplied 50 MW only for one day, the day of the plants inauguration. One unit at Bin Qasim has been restored after necessary repair and maintenance work which added 175 MW. The other sick unit, No 4 at Bin Qasim, still remains shut despite the KESC spokesman telling Daily Times a week ago that the unit will be operational in a week.

The KESC spokesman informed Daily Times that the 145 MW unit at Korangi Thermal Power Station (KTPS) can only be operational after Japanese engineers come to Pakistan to fix the problem.

On the other hand, the business community of the city is feared to face a deadlock regarding power.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) former president and ruling group chairman Siraj Kassim Teli previously told Daily Times that the power crisis in the city will destroy Pakistan. The average loss due to load shedding on a daily basis amounts to more than Rs 50 million and affects more than 15,000 industries in the city. “Mark my words, the city will sink in complete darkness in the coming summer and the citizen of Karachi will face the worst situation ever in the history of Pakistan,” warned Teli.

KESC promised to invest US $ 500 million but not a single penny has been invested so far and not a single watt of power has been added. Karachi generates and adds more than 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer but hours of power outage has caused shrinkage in production and irreparable damages to the export sector worth billions, argued Teli.

A KESC engineer, who chose to remain anonymous, told Daily Times that the KESC shut down power units 1 and 2 at Bin Qasim over pretext of repair and maintenance but since the life span of these units is physically over, no efforts can yield any benefits. The only solution to overcome the crisis lies with the installation of two new units. However, a huge amount will be required provided the utility really intends to invest. At least two more years will be required for the installation and operation.

“Two units of 66 MW each and 2 units of 125 MW each at Korangi Thermal Power Station (KTPS) have been shut down for good. The crisis will only be over if the dead units are replaced. This requires sound planning, a will to do the work and the release of money for purchase of new units,” added the engineer.

KESC employees’ union general secretary Latif Mughal told Daily Times that KESC had a shortage of 300 MW in January which has now increased to 750 MW. KESC lacks professional expertise which is why engineers from Japan are needed to revive the dead KTPS unit in Korangi. It can not be guaranteed whether the Japanese engineers will turn up or not.

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