Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to end scheduled and unscheduled electricity load-shedding across the country by May 1.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directives to end electricity load-shedding from May 1. He declared that after resolving all issues by April 30,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said. The PM says there must be no disturbance due to load shedding in the summer. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Information Marriyum Aurengzeb, and senior officials attended the meeting.
Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities concerned to make a sustained and smooth fuel supply mechanism and plan for one month for the summer. The Prime Minister also sought an effective long-term plan to end pilferage in loss-making power distribution companies. He sought a report on plans to end losses of feeders to distribution companies. Prime Minister also took notice of complaints of an artificial shortage of diesel during crop harvesting. He said the artificial shortage creators would punish. The PM directed authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted diesel supplies to farmers to operate their machinery. “The district administration in rural areas should ensure that farmers do not face any difficulty getting diesel,” he added.
The power generation had reached 18,500MW. The shortfall in demand is 500-2,000MW. Twenty out of 27 powerhouses were not working for a year. Now we are starting work on it, and as a result, power generation will increase.. The previous government did not ensure timely provision of fuel to operate the powerhouses. Another factor behind the load shedding is criminal negligence to timely repair and maintain the powerhouses,” the meeting was informed.
The briefings include that the present government arranged for fuel in two weeks, and the issue of load shedding was also being addressed by increasing electricity generation. Shehbaz Sharif said the new policy to address the electricity shortage was an “Eid gift” to the nation that had been suffering frequent power outages in the summer.
Munawar Hasan adds from Lahore: Power consumers are likely to brave record electricity shortfall till the weekend amid projection of searing heat nearing 48-50C. It has been learned that unconstrained peak power demand may shoot up to 26,000-27,000MW from the current 25,000MW against the present generation of around 18,000MW amid unusually high mercury levels. Hence, it is feared that the electricity deficit may exceed 7,500MW even after a gradual increase in power generation to 19,000MW. Such a widening shortfall in electricity demand and supply means 6-14 hours of power suspension till the end of the current month. In the last days of the Holy month of Ramazan, when power supply otherwise used to be as per demand, consumers may continue to face prolonged outages. Newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was finally appointed Minister of Power after two weeks in power, vowed to end the ongoing crippling power crisis not earlier than by the end of the current month.
Commenting on the severe outages, Hammad Azhar, former energy minister, believed that incumbents mishandled the power supply issue by not diverting enough system gas to offset LNG defaults of PMLN contracts. It led to the depletion of 200k tonnes of HFO rapidly. Then they panicked & bought the priciest 4 spots LNGs all at once. Plus, Sahiwal Coal not injected with enough liquidity.” This issue of power load shedding & diesel shortages was 100% avoidable. One must realize that running a govt is much more than just photo ops or inaugurating projects completed by the PTI govt. It requires diligence, planning & decisions based on data, not knee jerk reactions,” he observed.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy didn’t comment on the widening power demand and supply situation. However, another official claimed that the power gap currently hovered around 5,000MW.