LAHORE, May 1: With mercury rising to the mid-40s and the country’s power deficit widening to 1,500MW, the Water and Power Development Authority has doubled the duration for loadshedding throughout the country.
According to Wapda officials, the situation can fluctuate now on almost daily basis, mainly responding to temperatures in the country. The stress will soon be shifting to ‘elaborate conservation measures’ which will be initiated soon.
Wapda has spread the load on its distribution companies, and main cities will now experience loadshedding for one hour twice a day, instead of earlier 30 minutes. Rural areas will be facing the major brunt because loadshedding duration for them has been doubled.
According to Wapda officials, the government has now realised the magnitude of the crisis for the first time in the last few months and is busy devising conservation strategies. Once they are finalised and implemented, the authority will know exactly where it stands as far as demand and supply are concerned. These strategies, according to them, are being devised keeping in view the projected deficit of 2,000mw.
Since this summer is forecast to be hotter, power shortage can soar up to 2,300MW. But conservation measures could save up to 1,000MW and cut the burden by half on domestic and industrial consumers, the officials said.
Wapda, they said, was stuck in rising demand and lack of corresponding investment. Substantiating their point of view, they said 33 per cent increase in home appliance was registered during the last one year – from 7.5 million to 9.8 million. The biggest jump has come in air conditioners, which have grown from 500,000 last year to 750,000 this year. Only to cater to these appliances, the authority needs an investment of $1.2 billion. Where this money would come from, they wondered.
During the next few weeks, Wapda will try to augment its thermal generation, which can be taken to 3,500MW from current 2,900MW. But, it needs investment to do that. Fortunately, the government is willing to foot the bill. The authority has already increased thermal generation by 15MW and will be able to add another 75MW through its own means. One rental power project of 136MW should also be commissioned by the end of this month and another plant of 98MW (Malakand-III) should be in operation by June end. But, the biggest jump could be managed from thermal generation and conservation, the officials said.
The authority is also hoping some extra relief from hydel generation. Hotter summer will also mean additional water and extra power. Its three hydel units can provide additional 300MW if water level rises in dams. Combining these factors, the officials added, Wapda hoped that the situation would not worsen during the next two months. By then, conservation measures and additional supplies should be able to meet additional demand.
