ISLAMABAD: Most of the country sizzles in sweltering heat with national power shortfall registering 4500 MW, which brought the country to level where it faces worst ever power load-shedding particularly the rural areas are worst hit areas bearing the brunt of load shedding spanning 14 to 16 hours daily, despite reports that power generation stands at 14800 MW against a demand of 19300 MW.
The facts belie the tall claims of power production by the government so much so that 100 megawatt Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur is yielding 18 megawatt production presently. The feasibility report is main cause of failure of this project.
The Ministry of Water and Power, however, sticks to its claim of having complete control over the situation and is carrying out six hours load-shedding in the cities and eight hours in rural areas, with no unscheduled load-shedding in any part of the country but additional load-shedding in areas of high losses.
According to the ministry figures, total national demand, excluding Karachi, peaked at 19,000MW against the generation of 14,876 MW. As per its details, thermal sector generated some 9,803 MW, hydel 5,073 MW and wind 186 MW.
The normal demand during such a high temperature is well over 22,000MW, which has been recorded in last few years, even if yearly increase is not taken into equation. The Ministry claimed that they have 17,900 MW power generation capacity for the peak season.
In May 2015 the high temperature was recorded 36 C and low 22C and in May this year the high temperature has soared to 43C and low 26C and when the temperature rises the demand of the electricity is also increased in the country.
The sources in the Ministry of Water and Power told Daily Times that the incumbent government has allocated billion of rupees in the budget for the financial year 2016-17 for construction of 16 energy projects in the country under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Funds will be released through PSDP 2016-17 for completion of these projects on priority basis till 2018 and with the completion of these 16 projects 10400 megawatt electricity will be added to National Grid Station (NGS).
Work is underway on two coal-fired power plants at Port Qasim Karachi under CPEC. Power generation capacity of one plant is 660 megawatt while total capacity of these plants stand at 1320 megawatts.