Islamabad: Almost five power generation including companies
including independent power generation companies (IPPs) and rental
power projects (RPPs) find difficult to continue their operation in
Pakistan due to acute shortage of furnace oil due to which the power
crises would be further intensified.
The main factor of
shortage of furnace oil is the circular debt in power sector , which
has touched the incredible figures of Rs 80.44 billion , which the
power generation companies have to owe to Pakistan State Oil (PSO),
only public sector company responsible for supplying oil to these power
projects.
Those power projects that would be affected by the
scarcity of furnace oil included Halmor Power Project, Reshma Power
Plant, Guddu Power Project , KES Lalpir Generation Company and
Faisalabad Sumandari Power Plant.
The capacity of these power
plants is 4500 mega watts while at present they are almost generating
2800 mw. These power plants, which are running already approximately
1700 mw short of their original capacity , could further reduce their
generation by almost 1500 mw. The situation could increase the power
crises in the country resulting further hours of load shedding.
According
to the sources the consumption of furnace oil in power sector is 31000
metric ton per day, whereas at present it is supplied 20,000 to 22000
mtd. The sources of PSO told this scribe that the circular debit raised
to that level , due to which it has become very hard to continue
furnace oil supply to power generation plants according to their
demands as PSO also has to make payment of almost Rs 78 billion to oil
exploring companies as well as on account of exports.
According
to PEPCO on Sunday the generation of electricity in Pakistan was 12939
mw , whereas the demand was 17898 mw .The shortfall of electricity in
the country was 4951 mega watts .The electricity supplied to KESC was
710 mw.
According to break-up, the production of hydal plants
was 1588 mw, IPP genarted 5884 mega watts. The generation of RPPs were
83 mw.
Whereas the total generation capacity of IPPs is 7500
mw, similarly the hydal plants can produce 6444 mega watts, the
capacity of thermal power plant is 2550 mw and RPPs can produce 284 mw
of electricity .
Due to shortage of furnace oil the shortfall
of electricity can swell to almost 6500 mw form its current level of
4951 mw, which would increase the power crises and load shedding.
People
at different cities of the country are protesting against power
outages, which caused huge loss to national property. If the crises
would be deepened , it would be cause more problems for the government. Online
