As the sweltering summer season approaches, the Ministry of Water and Power begins its usual claim of “improving loadshedding situation as water levels rise in coming weeks”.
Yesterday, the Minister of Water and Power, Khawaja Asif broke the news that Pakistan is facing a massive electricity shortfall of 5,420 megawatts. However, he attributed all “unscheduled loadshedding” due to the high temperatures that the country is currently experiencing.
A few days ago he blamed low water levels at major dams as the reason for the electricity shortfall.
Circular Debt
While speaking at a news conference that was called following a massive power blackout in Karachi, the minister said that circular debt stands at Rs. 385 billion (excluding gas companies) by the end of last month. He compared it with the situation in 2013, where circular debt was Rs. 441 billion (including the gas companies).
He refrained from answering how much debt was owed to the gas companies and OGDCL. Experts seem to suggest that the circular debt situation is actually worse than before.
Loadshedding Situation
Khawaja Asif revealed that the current demand stands at 17,970 MW, which is 2,370MW higher than the same time last year. It was also notified that production had also increased over the year as it stands at 12,550MW, 1,000MW more than the maximum capacity in April 2016. In other words, he admitted that production capacity was still much lower than the rise in demand.
An official added that the current shortfall of 5,420MW meant electricity loadshedding of about 8 to 9 hours.
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While discussing the current shortfall, the minister admitted that hydropower generation was lower over the past two weeks due to low flow of water and that multiple power plants generating 1,200MW had been shut down due to maintenance.
The minister said that around 4,000MW to 4,500MW of electricity will be added to the system by the end of April which should improve the loadshedding situation. He said that:
“This would help meet this additional (demand-supply) gap, but the normal gap of three-four hours will remain there.”
Causes of Loadshedding
All the blame for the loadshedding was put on higher temperatures as the minister claimed temperatures in Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore had been several degrees higher than the same time last year.
He admitted that loadshedding times had reached 10 to 12 hours in some areas and that this would continue because such places are high-loss and revenue zones for WAPDA due to electricity theft.
Khawaja Asif said that WAPDA is removing transformers from such localities where electricity theft is common.
Overcharging Customers
The minister declined to comment on the reports that the government had been overcharging people and has earned Rs 228 billion. However, he said “the matter is now before the court, and we will state our position there.”
Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
Khawaja Asif rejected any speculation regarding the loadshedding being caused due to non-payments to IPPs. He informed the media that these plants added a record 8,000MW to the system yesterday while public sector companies produced record-breaking 2,836MW. Hydro-electric production was only slightly better than last year, however, and stood at 2,100MW.
The power minister said that total payables to IPPs are Rs. 163 billion, including the Rs. 56 billion owed to PSO. Another Rs. 54 billion will also be paid to the IPPs as capacity charges.
Read More: Govt’s Short Term Approach to Energy Policy is Killing Pakistan’s Future
Following that, he made a debatable comment on the loans. He said that excluding what PSO and the IPPs owed each other, the government has to pay Rs 161 billion but Rs 69 billion that amount was under litigation between the government and the IPPs as interest payments, which leaves behind only Rs. 92 billion.
The minister claimed that those Rs 92 billion don’t have to be paid in cash as the agreement allows the IPPs to draw the money from the banks which would make the government pay through a 4% charge on these credits.
As if Khwaja Asif give a rat’s fuck to this article and whole nation suffering.
This SickF**ck’s vision “Koi Sharram, Koi Haya” doesn’t apply on himself
They have no shame, no conscience and no sense of responsibility. All they care about is defending Shareef’s corruption and lining their own pockets while they’re at it.
I remember Maryam Nawaz tweeting there will be surplus energy by 2017.
Pathetic enough, Not only they but the vast majority of Pakistani citizens are defending and supporting Nawaz Sharif and his party. That’s how they got elected after all.
1000% agree with you Shahzaib.
And they promised 6 months, 1 year and two years to overcome this problem. I have seen very educated people hoping that Sharif mafia will solve this but they’re living in fool’s paradise.
Put him on boot polish job, as he is only master in it
You know what,
main is baat ka intezar kar raha hon koi patwari aa jaye takay main dekhon k abhi bhi yeh beg***rat log kese defend karty hain…
or yeh salay modi ko bijli daingy…..bc k bachay
Wo hain na idhr Ali Salman Bhai sahib. Ajaingain thori dair me.
Shortfall wagera main issues nahi, Main issue yeh hai ke agar Elecricity/Gas ki load shedding khatam kar dain tu phir awam dosri chezon par sochna shuro kardegi aur yeh in feudals ki sehat ke liye bilkul theek nahi. And above all yeh saray maslay agar hal hogaye tu election main kaunse sabz baag dikha kar vote lainge?
Uncle aamir007 aap un 60 logo ko khiraj-e-tahseen pasih krna bhol gaye hai jo kuch din phaly gallup walo ko keh rhay thy loadshedding khtm ho gai hai…..
Shameless people
Several degree increase in temperature? That’s why I have serious doubts on Global Warming perceptions in general.
How embarrassing, but I doubt his followers will see it that way. They will probably be sweltering in the upcoming heat wave and screaming “DAIKHO DAIKHO KON AYA!”
Gallup ka survey kahan gya ab?
Load shedding to khatam ho gae thi us paid survey k mutabiq.