SNGPL starts gas supply to three thermal power plants

Tuesday, 21 Oct 2008

Daily Times reported that Gas supply to 3 thermal powerhouses resumed, resulting in a 450 MW increase in production of electricity.

The Sui Northern Gas company resumed the supply after Mr Raja Pervez Ashraf Water and Power Minister took up the issue with the Petroleum Ministry in a 2 day meeting that ended on Friday.

As per report, the gas supply to 3 thermal generation plants was suspended because the Qadirpur Gas Field had been shut down for an annual audit.

Mr Tahir Basharat Cheema director general of PEPCO Energy Management and Conservation said that last week the situation would improve after October 20th when more water would be released from the reservoirs.

Officials said that the Pakistan Electric Power Company planned to ensure regular power supply to the seasonal cotton ginning industry and oil mills. They said that there were 12,000 cotton ginning factories in southern Punjab and northern Sindh. About 70% of ginning factories and oil mills would get electricity from 6am to 2pm and 30% from 10pm to 6am.

The report added that 70% of the tube wells providing water for the sowing of Rabi crops will get electric power at night and 30% during the day. The textile industry would get power for two 8 hour shifts, furnace steel industry would be provided electricity for 12 hours a day in one go, power looms for 16 hours and continuous process industries would get power throughout the day if they reduce consumption by 50% during peak hours.

The official said that the plan was made under the water and power minister’s supervision and would end ‘forced load shedding’.

Pakistan’s current power demand ranges from 13,500 MW to 14,000, leading to a shortage of about 5,000 MW. Production would increase in the H1 of next month after some thermal power plants closed for maintenance will reopen.