NTDC sees trouble-free power supply
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LAHORE: Major technical constraints in the 220/500kV system have almost been removed, enabling the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) to ensure a trouble-free power transmission to the 120kV network of the electricity distribution companies (Discos).
Among all provinces, Punjab will be the major beneficiary since the 220/500kV grids and transmission system here continued to be overloaded in summer causing power breakdowns, forced shutdowns, load-shedding and management and brownouts.
“I am very hopeful that this summer will be much comfortable than the last years since we have removed several system constraints that were causing disruption in the power transmission, supply and distribution in the service areas of Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and Faisalabad based Discos,” NTDC Managing Director Zafar Abbas told Dawn on Wednesday.
“Lahore may have additional supply of over 600MW this summer, as laying of a new 220kV line from New Lahore (Bhai Pheru) to Wapda Town (Lahore) is about to complete within next week or so,” he said.
In the ongoing extensive assignments, the NTDC engineers have completed augmentation work at 500kV grid station (Rawat, Islamabad) with addition of a 750MVA transformer that energised finally about two weeks before. The addition of this transformer will result in smooth power supply during summers in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Chakwal.
Similarly, augmentation work for addition of 250MVA transformers at 220kV Toba Tek Singh, 220 kV Ludewala, 220kV Samundari and 220 kV Vehari Grid Stations was also completed. The addition of transformers on these grid stations will result in stable power supply, improved voltage profile for consumers of Faisalabad Electric Supply Company and Multan Electric Power Supply Company.
The 500kV Gatti grid (Faisalabad)—a very important grid station of the country’s transmission system— was facing overloading problems due to non-upgradation of work. After the installation of a transformer of 600MVA capacity, load on this grid station will be reduced considerably.
The NTDC MD said 220kV Quetta grid was also being upgraded with addition of a 250MVA transformer.
“The switchyard of Piranghaib (Multan) grid has also been refurbished. Similarly the RLNG power plant (Tareemu, Jhang) will also be connected with the national grid soon,” Abbas added.
Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2019
