The News reported that the industrial areas in the city continued to face 12 hour long power outages on Monday although the government had assured that the Karachi Electric Supply Company would exempt them from load management.

Mr Irfan Moton chairman of SITE Association of Industry said that “Industrial units continued to face power outages on Monday. Industrial units in SITE area recorded three spells of power outages, each of four hours.

Dr Asim Hussain Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources had assured that the business community on Saturday that KESC would exempt factories in the city from power outages from Monday.

He had said that KESC would be provided furnace oil at the price of natural gas by Pakistan State Oil, so that KESC could increase its power generation and keep the industrial estates out of its power load management plan for the city.

A KESC handout said that the industrial zones of the city would be exempted from power load shedding after gas supply to KESC was increased to 180mmcfd as committed by Sui Southern Gas Company in the agreement signed at Governor’s House on November 26th 2011.

KESC said that as yet, there has been no increase in the gas supply by SSGC. It had been receiving just 120mmcfd gas for the last 15 days. The short supply of gas is the primary reason for the current power crisis in the city, especially the industrial zones. As soon as the agreed level of 180 million cubic feed per day of gas is received from SSGC, KESC would not only implement the zero load shedding program for industries but the power outages for residential and commercial areas would also be reduced.

Mr Mian Abrar Ahmed president of KCCI said that the chamber has summoned a meeting of its members on Tuesday to discuss the matter. The shutdown of industries is the only option left with industrialists. Factories were virtually lying shut with 12 hour outages.

(Sourced from www.thenews.com.pk)