Will prolonged loadshedding in Karachi end?

Residents of Karachi are already suffering from an economic crisis and the scorching temperatures. Apart from that, they endure hours of unannounced loadshedding by K-Electric that makes no qualms in worsening the situation.

This has reached the top corridors of power who have vowed to resolve the matter. Areas such as Lyari, Lines Area, Malir, Surjani Town, Korangi and New Karachi are facing power outages of approximately 12 hours. Let’s take an in-depth of the increasing prolonged power outrages and the blame game between the stakeholders.

The blame game

K-Electric, the sole power distributor in Karachi, has blamed the outages on low gas pressure from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), saying that it is adversely affecting its power generation capability.

The K-Electric said it was receiving low gas pressure from the gas utility, which had created a shortfall of up to 400MW. KE’s furnace oil power plants are fully functional. The supply gap will only be filled after gas pressure is restored to KE’s power plants.  

On the other hand, the SSGC refuted KE’s claims as baseless, saying that there was no gas load-shedding in its franchise areas.  Company spokesperson Shahbaz Islam said that first the power utility had alleged they were not receiving the required volume of gas.

“When we proved to them that we were giving them the required volume, they have now spoken about gas pressure,” he added. He added that currently the company was facing a shortage of 120 to 140mmcfd in gas supply.

The KE had also blamed the federal government for not providing additional electricity from the national grid. The company has even refused to take responsibility for the recent loadshedding saying it is not at fault. Meanwhile, the Sindh government has stepped aside and said K-Electric is not under its control.

NEPRA’s public hearing

On September 21, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority conducted a chaotic public hearing over KE’s performance.

During the hearing, former president of KCCI Siraj Qasim Teli demanded that K-Electric’s monopoly as the city’s sole power generator be brought to an end, which led to an argument between him and Nepra Chairperson Tauseef H. Farooqi.

Qasim Teli said that the business community was ready to establish a distribution company if the KE’s monopoly came to an end. On the occasion, the power company asserted that loadshedding will not end anytime soon. The electricity demand has reached 3,000 MW whereas the company only has the capacity to produce 2,500 MW.

Supreme Court’s orders

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed held the power company accountable for prolonged power failures. The Supreme Court (SC) ordered a complete audit of K-Electric.

CJP also placed K-Electric Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Monis Alvi on Exit Control List (ECL) as he expressed disappointment with the company’s late dismal performance. The apex court also ordered to register a First Information Report (FIR) of electrocution deaths in the port city against K-Electric officials.

Any solution to this problem?

If Karachi is not provided electricity, 50% of the country’s economy will continue to be affected, which could cause irreparable damage to the economy.

When it was discussed by the political leaders that the power distribution should be taken away from K Electric, K Electric wrote a letter to the government stating that no such decision could be taken as there was an agreement between the government and K Electric in this regard.

The solution to the problem is clear: first of all, the secret agreement between government and K Electric should be end. Later, the government should take over the power system instead of handing it over to a new company.