ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s energy crisis has intensified once again, with the electricity shortfall exceeding 4,000 megawatts (MW) amid declining hydropower generation and a shortage of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
According to sources, the gap between electricity demand and supply has widened significantly. Overall power demand currently ranges between 10,000MW and 12,000MW during the daytime, while it rises to around 16,000MW at night.
Although solar power systems help reduce pressure on the national grid during daylight hours, electricity demand increases in the evening, pushing the shortfall to approximately 4,000MW. As a result, consumers in various parts of the country are facing three to four hours of unscheduled power outages.
Sources have revealed that rising gas demand has limited the supply of gas to local power plants. Consequently, LNG-based power plants with a combined generation capacity of approximately 6,000MW have remained completely shut down.
Meanwhile, reduced water releases into rivers have also affected hydropower generation. The contribution of hydel power has dropped from around 7,000MW to just 4,000MW, further adding to the pressure on the national electricity system.
However, there is a possibility of some relief in the coming days, as additional LNG cargoes from Qatar are expected to arrive in Pakistan this week.
Sources say that an improvement in LNG supplies could help narrow the gap between electricity demand and supply, potentially easing the ongoing power crisis.
