LAHORE, Jan 13: Loadshedding for domestic and industrial power consumers in Punjab will be reduced by 90 per cent by the end of this month, claim senior officials.

The chief executives of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and Wapda’s distribution companies made this claim while briefing Governor Salmaan Taseer on the measures to reduce loadshedding. The briefing was held at the Governor’s House on Tuesday.

The officials informed the governor that power supply position had started improving and 300 megawatts of electricity was already available as Pepco had completed overhauling of its generation plants. Another 246MW had become available from two IPP plants commissioned at Attock and Malakand. Besides, they said, three IPP plants were nearing completion at Balloki, Muridke and Sahiwal.

The Pepco officials said loadshedding for industrial units had already been reduced as a result of increase in thermal power generation. Power supply to industrial units in Faisalabad would be suspended for four hours twice a day. Twelve feeders in suburbs of the district had been exempted from unannounced loadshedding, they said, adding that five-hour uninterrupted power supply would also be ensured to rural feeders supplying electricity to larger number of tubewells.

In Multan, they said, the loadshedding duration for textile units would be reduced to seven hours in two shifts with the availability of 50MW electricity from Jan 14 (today). Pace of work on three new grid stations proposed to be built at Qasim Bagh, Suraj Miani and Jail Road (Multan) was also reviewed during the meeting.

The governor stressed the need for taking up the issue of transfer of land for the grid stations with the provincial government. Power supply shortage in urban areas of Lahore would be reduced from the present 700MW to 400MW by Feb 1. There would be a marked decrease in the 18-hour daily loadshedding to industrial feeders, the officials told the governor.

Mr Taseer was further informed that 3,500MW thermal power would be available by December. Another 1,000MW would be available from rental units. And the Chashma Power Plant closed for overhaul five months back would also resume operation from Jan 17; all these would provide the much-needed electricity.

In addition, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited had started supplying 25 million cubic feet gas to Pepco gas power stations at Kot Addu, Sheikhupura, Bhekki and Faisalabad, which had been lying closed owing to loadshedding.

The gas stations had 750MW power generation capacity. Wapda generated 6,500MW of hydel power by release of water into canals from dams. Hydel power generation was suspended owing to closure of canals for annual desilting which would be completed by Jan 31. Hydel power generation would thus be resumed next month, said the officials.

The governor expressed satisfaction over decrease in loadshedding as a result of increase in thermal power generation following payments to the IPPs. He also directed constitution of load management committees in all the distribution companies. Every distribution company should also have two elected representatives as focal persons who should maintain constant liaison with the public utility services, he directed.