Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday announced that electricity loadshedding will be reduced starting tonight, even as the country continues to face a massive power shortfall of nearly 4,000MW.
The minister apologised for the inconvenience caused to the public due to loadshedding and said the government has always worked to bring the country out of darkness. He said electricity supply conditions are expected to improve from tonight compared to the previous day.
The minister clarified that no loadshedding is being carried out in Hyderabad and for K-Electric consumers.
K-Electric is currently drawing a record 2,100 megawatts from the national grid.
He acknowledged that the country is facing a shortfall of around 4,000 megawatts. He attributed the crisis to reduced gas supply due to geopolitical disruptions and a decline of around 1,600 megawatts in hydropower generation.
He further said that LNG supply disruption has led to a shortage of over 3,000 megawatts, while hydropower production has also significantly declined.
Electricity demand in April has ranged between 9,000 and 20,000 megawatts, and when demand exceeded 16,500 megawatts, loadshedding increased, he said.
He added that around 1,400 megawatts of electricity is currently being generated through furnace oil, and termed the ongoing crisis temporary. He also said that a previously announced limited load management of 2.5 hours was aimed at controlling electricity prices.
When questioned about NEPRA’s stance that “economic loadshedding is illegal,” he responded that it would eventually be made legal.
He also warned that the use of furnace oil could increase the fuel price adjustment to around Rs. 1.30 per unit.
