THIS is apropos your editorial ‘Power bottleneck’ (Aug 7). It has pointed towards an important issue that, if not addressed could jeopardise all government’s efforts to end loadshedding by 2018.

As per the power regulator, the existing transmission system cannot carry current loads, let alone cater to the requirements of the future. The existing transmission system is barely able to handle loads up to 15,000MW, whereas the government claims that it will take power generation capacity to 31,000MW by the time its term ends. How will the additional 16,000MW be taken to the consumers? In a nutshell, it means that the loadshedding will not come to an end.

Owing to the insufficient load-carrying capacity of the existing transmission lines, many power plants are operating well below their capacity. In addition, many grid stations and transformers are operating at 80pc of capacity, well beyond their safety limits.

In order to handle the kind of loads the government is planning to put on the system by 2018, it will require a massive upgradation of the entire network. It has been reported that plants that were inaugurated with much fanfare will remain idle because power lines to carry their output have yet to be laid.

It would be prudent on the part of the water and power ministry to undertake upgradation of the existing power transmission and distribution system on a war-footing so that benefits could accrue from the additional 16,000MW which will be generated by 2018.

Mere generation of megawatts will not be enough to tackle the power shortages in any meaningful way.

A.Khan

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016