KARACHI, Aug 21: Energy consumption of Karachi has jumped unprecedentedly to 8.14 per cent during 2002-2003, as compared with the previous four years’ trend of three per cent yearly rise.

According to a KESC report, this increase in power consumption may be due to a sudden growth of industrial and commercial activity. During the year 2002-2003 KESC power stations produced 8808 million kWh units against the 8709 million kWh units last year, while power purchases from WAPDA and IPPs also increased to 3156 kWh units against 2801 units, making the total power supply 11964 million kWh units against the 11063 units last year, registering an overall power-consumption increase of 8.14 per cent.

The KESC’s Bin Qasim power station has achieved a production level of 1100 MW, whereas in 1998-99 it was producing 700-800 MW against the total installed capacity of 1250 MW. During the year, against a total gas allocation of 188 MMCFD, the KESC received only 141 MMCFD gas, which increased the cost of power generation by 1.934 billion rupees.

The report reveals that power consumption of the city relates more to higher economic productivity as the number of new electricity consumers during the current year decreased to 43,108 from the 50,223 during 2001-02. industrial electricity consumers are paying their electricity dues regularly and the monthly revenue recovery in this sector is 100 per cent.

MEETING: Major-General Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, GOC 4 Army Air Defence Division, on Thursday asked KESC engineers for an in-depth study of the reasons for the unprecedented increase in energy consumption.