KARACHI, May 13: The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation is making efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply to the city but the excessive increase in power demand due to hot weather has multiplied power breakdowns and frequent activation of safety switches interrupting power supply to areas where the distribution system is either weak or overloaded.

This was stated by a KESC spokesman here on Monday. He added that the “KESC has taken all possible measures to keep supplying uninterrupted electricity. Karachi is an energy deficient area by about 500 megawatts and the corporation to enhance power production cannot plan or establish more power stations due to the privatization since 1994. Only the private sector can put up more power plants to meet the increase in city power demand. Assured and uninterrupted power supply depends on adequate availability of the commodity”.

He said that in order to correct the mismatch and for equitable distribution of power supply, the KESC had no option except loadshedding.

He said the current city power demand is 1850 magawatts. The KESC produces a total of 1200 MW. Due to a shortage of gas, it is not being able to provide the required amount of power according to city demand due to the lowering of hydroelectricity because of water shortages to dead-level, reduction in fuel generation due to maintenance of one 210-MW unit at Hubco.

The two local IPPs, Kanupp and Pakistan Steel were giving their maximum energy production of 286 MW and Wapda between 150- 200 MW. The available power for the KESC’s distribution to the entire city of Karachi, parts of Thatta and Balochistan was 1650 and 1750 MW. Hence the gap of 100-200 MW will be overcome through loadshedding.

“Efforts are on for not carrying out loadshedding and whenever during the 24 hours the demand and supply matches no loadshedding will be carried out. But in case shortages occur shutdowns will be carried out in group wise rotation only in residential and commercial areas for duration of 40 to 60 minutes.”