LAHORE – The electricity loadshedding has resumed once again in provincial capital as the power quota allocated to the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has reducedto merely 1,100MW from the demand of 2,200MW due to shortfall in total power generation in the country.
Official sources said that the Lesco has started closing commercial as well as the domestic feeders for almost 12 hours, releasing loadshedding schedule for up to 12 hours in its jurisdiction. They said that the hydel generation has reduced to 2,700MW against the total generation capacity of 7,000MW due to the less release of water from reservoirs on provinces demand. Moreover, the SNGPL has also curtailed 200 mmcfd gas supply due to maintenance, resulting in the reduction of 500MW in the system produced by the gas-fired thermal power plants.
According to the power ministry officials, presently all Chashma Nuclear Power Plants, including C1, C2, C3 are C4 have been closed mainly due to smog, leading to power supply suspension to the grid stations including 500kv Multan-DG Khan, 500kv Guddo, 747kv circuit along with Multan Bus Bar-1, 500kv Multan-Yousaf Wala circuit, 220kv Mgarh ph1-Bhwlpr, 220kv Multan-Vehari circuits-I & II, 220kv Vehari- Kassowal circuits-I & II, 220kv Kassowal- Yousafwala circuits-I & II, 220kv Multan-M/Garh circuit-4,220kv Multan-Kapco circuit-4, 500kv Multan, 220kv Vehari, Kasowal and Chishtian grids and 220kv Yousfwala.
A number of areas in Lahore witnessed power shutdown for up to 12 hours while there was no light the whole night in some other areas like Mozang, Lyton road, Temple road, Anarkali, Multan Road, some areas of walled city, Yatim Khana and Multan Road. Residents were of the view that after a considerable relief, the loadshedding has started again. “At present we are witnessing loadshedding for about four hours,” they said.
Officials said that the national power control centre has reduced the electricity quota of all Discos following cut in hydel supply and now Lesco is being supplied 1,100MW against the actual demand of 2,200MW. “At present we are observing loadshedding for four hours in urban and 8 hours in rural areas in Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Nankana and Sheikhupura,” the Lesco officials claime.
Source The Nation