K-Electric cites low gas pressure as Karachiites complain of prolonged power cuts

K-Electric cites low gas pressure as Karachiites complain of prolonged power cuts:

The main provider of electricity to Karachi, K-Electric, on Wednesday issued a press release citing low gas pressure as a reason behind the "brief disruption of power" many citizens within the metropolis are experiencing for the past two days.


K-Electric's press release came at least seven hours after the Sui Southern Gas Company ─ a government-run organisation managing country's natural gas assets ─ issued a tweet, saying because of low line pack pressure, supply of compressed natural gas will remain suspended on Thursday.  

The power supply company tweeted the press release as patrons from various areas in the city took to Twitter to complain about the unannounced power cut over the last two days.

In its press release, K-Electric stated, "Power supply in some areas was interrupted briefly due to the tripping at one of the units of [the company's] power plants that occurred on Tuesday and low gas pressure on Wednesday."

"To manage the load, select areas of the city faced intermittent interruption in power supply," it added.

K-Electric further stated it is rotating the "load management spells... and kept [them] brief in duration to minimise the inconvenience", adding that it is working with relevant authorities to restore the gas pressure during the day.

However, some citizens continue to experience prolonged power cuts, seemingly lasting longer in some areas than others. 

In its reply to the irate customer, K-Electric said, "Loadshedding is being carried out in the city to manage the power shortfall."

To another patron inquiring about the loadshedding schedule, the company said, "It is being conducted temporarily and as per system requirement." 

After repeated prodding by citizens regarding the power cut timings, the company issued various responses, once saying, "The estimated time [between power cuts] cannot be shared."  

However, the company has been in constant touch with its patrons via Twitter, asking whether it is a voltage issue or complete power outage. In case of the latter, it is asking patrons to inform K-Electric whether the power keeps going out on intervals once restored.

Lack of 'anticipated planning'

Reports from various parts of the country earlier this week suggested six to eight hours of load-shedding in major urban centres and up to 18 hours in the rural areas.

The reports followed a meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had in April, in which he had told the federal cabinet and the departments concerned that he wants to see an end to electricity loadshedding by Decem­ber this year and will not hesitate to take action against the officials found responsible for gaps in power supply.

The prime minister in the meeting was also told that there was no unscheduled loadshedding even now as hydropower generation had improved and power cuts averaged below five hours. This was in addition to uninterrupted power supplies to the industrial sector.

An official statement said the prime minister expressed displeasure over the current loadshedding schedule. He said it was the government’s responsibility to provide relief to the masses.

“Anticipated planning has not been exercised by the relevant ministries and their organisations for which responsibility must be fixed,” the prime minister was quoted as saying in the statement.