Power shortfall hits 3300MW in Pakistan

[Lankan Ranger]

Power shortfall hits 3300MW in Pakistan

LAHORE: Electricity shortage in the country has reached close to 3300MW, causing difficulties for domestic as well as industrial consumers.

According to reports, domestic consumers are witnessing frequent power cuts of up to 17 hours while 8 to 10 hours of load-shedding is being recorded in the industrial sector.

The power crisis continued for the past many days as plants running through gas and hydel remained closed.

Presently, the PEPC is depending on the Furnace-run power plants, which are hardly generating 8000MW.

And a report from Karachi says; There is only 300,000 tons of furnace oil in the stock of the country which is hardly enough for generating electricity for 18 days.

According to sources of Petroleum Ministry, the oil companies have chalked out a plan to import further 270,000 tons furnace oil in January.

Almost 250,000 tons oil is expected to be refined by the local oil refineries during the same month.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has made payment of Rs8 billion as circular debt to Pakistan State Oil, source said.

Power shortfall hits 3300MW in Pakistan

 

[FreekiN]

Thanks, Zardari, we didn't need that electricity anyways.

 

[zb68930171]

eh~~~~~~~~~~~~~
China also have this problem, but in this winter, it's more serious.

 

[Maddy2105]

There is only 300,000 tons of furnace oil in the stock of the country which is hardly enough for generating electricity for 18 days.

According to sources of Petroleum Ministry, the oil companies have chalked out a plan to import further 270,000 tons furnace oil in January.

Almost 250,000 tons oil is expected to be refined by the local oil refineries during the same month.

So thats oil for almost 2 months of electricity ?? You got a lil bit of time left to rectify this

 

[FreekiN]

eh~~~~~~~~~~~~~
China also have this problem, but in this winter, it's more serious.

Pakistan's electricity shortages happen in the summer, thanks to extreme heat which prompts people to use air-conditioners. In the winter time, load-shedding is almost non-existent but in the winter, gas shortages happen thanks to the gas-fueled heaters.

I didn't think China had electricity problems too, hmm.. maybe we can work together for a solution.

 

[Red Dwarf]

Pakistan's electricity shortages happen in the summer, thanks to extreme heat which prompts people to use air-conditioners. In the winter time, load-shedding is almost non-existent but in the winter, gas shortages happen thanks to the gas-fueled heaters.

I didn't think China had electricity problems too, hmm.. maybe we can work together for a solution.

Add India too into that group. Electricity is a problem here too.

eh~~~~~~~~~~~~~
China also have this problem, but in this winter, it's more serious.

Actually i thought China has surplus power.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Gov should impose ban on Fuel generated Power generator

Instead families should get Solar Pannels installed


180 million families with solar pannels would generate Enough energy to fuel India and China -

Only if our Gov focused on Solar Pannel Sector

 

[FreekiN]

Solar panels would work for Pakistan very well, but they are extremely expensive.

 

[zb68930171]

In fact, China have the problem in the whole year.
In summer, we could go to HEILONGJIANG. It is the north province chinese. It is cool. But in winter, maybe you have seen some news, in these years, China have to face the calamity of snow, GUANGZHOU is also cold. Many chinese use radiator electric.

If China have surplus power, why we still cost so much to build power plant ? They are not just for neon light!!!!!

It's a big even urgent problem to China too.
BUT I believe that we could find a way to solve it.

 

[gogbot]

Pakistan's electricity shortages happen in the summer, thanks to extreme heat which prompts people to use air-conditioners. In the winter time, load-shedding is almost non-existent but in the winter, gas shortages happen thanks to the gas-fueled heaters.

I didn't think China had electricity problems too, hmm.. maybe we can work together for a solution.

Who doesn't have energy problems

To compound matters we have climate change to deal with. So we
cant just make coal powered plants and go on on polluting willy nilly.

If people have not figured it out Already the energy crisis is a global issue. requiring Global cooperation now more than ever due to the consequences of climate change.

This is not something so small that Pak and china can cooperate on and then sing friends forever.

this is a serious global issue. That needs to be tackled on Multiple fronts.

 

[zb68930171]

Who doesn't have energy problems

To compound matters we have climate change to deal with. So we
cant just make coal powered plants and go on on polluting willy nilly.

If people have not figured it out Already the energy crisis is a global issue. requiring Global cooperation now more than ever due to the consequences of climate change.

This is not something so small that Pak and china can cooperate on and then sing friends forever.

this is a serious global issue. That needs to be tackled on Multiple fronts.

Yes, it's ture. BUT I think that "PAK and China can cooperate on" and "sing friends forever" are two things!

China could cooperate with American and Europeen, but I don't think that we have any real friendship with them!!!

 

[Barrett]

The shortage of electricity has become an acute problem for Pakistan and is affecting the economy in forms of huge subsidy given over the tariffs and increasing production costs for the industry which has greatly dented the exports hence increasing the trade deficits. The main reason for the shortfall of electricity is the dependency on furnace oil as a source for more then 50% of electricity production.

Current price of furnace oil is about Rs.48,000 per ton, which amounts up to Rs.48/- per kg. On an average one kg of furnace oil produces 3.8 kWh of electricity. Thus, the cost of furnace oil for generating one unit of electricity is about Rs.13. On top of this the fixed cost of a thermal plant works out to be about Rs.3 per unit. Therefore, one unit (kWh) of the electricity produced by all thermal plants using furnace oil is Rs.16 per unit. According to WAPDA/IPP agreement, the private power producers will charge WAPDA the actual fuel cost for which they have a direct contract with PSO. Previously we all know that WAPDA tariff charged from the consumers is about Rs.5 per unit (kWh).

The production cost of furnace oil electricity is Rs.16 per unit, add to it the transmission, distribution cost (including loses), “the total cost of such electricity works out to approximately Rs.22 per kWh. The difference between WAPDA tariff and the furnace oil electricity is Rs.17 per kWh.” It is estimated that the country consumes at least 25 billion units of electricity produced annually through furnace oil, which amounts to the total deficit of Rs.425 Billion. If WAPDA has to balance its books it would require a subsidy of Rs.425 Billion. This deficit is somewhat reduced due to cheap power produced through hydel energy and natural gas, but the deficit cannot change substantially, unless bulk of electricity is produced through hydel energy. Obviously, a deficit of Rs.300-350 Billion cannot be sustained, the government does not have resources to pay such a huge subsidy, hence we are seeing a 30% increase in the tariffs in three phases.

The best solution would be shifting from oil to Hydel energy but the present Govt is not planning or thinking on these lines infact opting for the most convenient option i.e. increasing the tariffs and suppressing the masses further.

The power crisis is far greater than what is being perceived.

 

[gogbot]

Yes, it's ture. BUT I think that "PAK and China can cooperate on" and "sing friends forever" are two things!

China could cooperate with American and Europeen, but I don't think that we have any real friendship with them!!!

The whole world is Building the Fusion reactor in France as a Fututre solution to the energy problem.

You need to think on this scale.

You have to cooperate with every one.
the energy problem relates to climate change to nuclear proliferation.

To whole web of International issues that cant be handled by simple Bilateral relations. You need to think big here. You need consider the fossils fuels you can use
where to get them from
your emissions
What can you do to stop those emissions
What technology do you need
What are the effects of Climate change i need to consider

You can;t let your hate or dislike blind your from the very real dangers right in-front of you

at the end of the day we are all Human

Living on one planet. Facing the same global problems

These are issue that are more important than Geo-politics

 

[Barrett]

Govt acquires ‘obsolete rental power plants’
By Khawar Ghumman
Sunday, 10 Jan, 2010



ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: The government has hired 12 rental power plants made in the 1990s, six of them from China, to overcome power shortage, according to the record of the National Assembly library. One of the plants was, however, manufactured way back in 1984.

According to knowledgeable sources, the government overlooked the dates of manufacture or where the plants were made since operators guarantee provision of relevant maintenance under the rental service agreement.

The government had to face embarrassment after it failed to end loadshedding by the end of December, belying a repeated pledge made by Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf last year.

Record shows that one of the acquired power plants, having a capacity of 110 megawatts, was made in the US way back in the mid-1980s. It has been hired for three years.

A China-made plant, with 1,990MW capacity, was made in 1990. Under the agreement, it will run for five years.

The ministry had hired another plant made in China to produce 200MW for three years. It was made in 1993.

The fourth plant, provided by China, was manufactured in 1994. It will be used to produce 62MW for five years.

Two more plants, hired from private Chinese bidders, had been made in 1995-96. They are capable of producing 201MW and 155MW for five years.

Record shows that two other rental plants – one each from the US and Switzerland – would produce 265MW and 65MW, respectively, do not carry any manufacturing date.

The government argued that penalties at the rate of 1.5 times of monthly rent would be imposed if the plants did not perform at an optimum level as prescribed in contracts. The government can also cancel contracts and or impose the above mentioned penalties if the plant did not exceed 10 per cent or more of the prescribed level.

Agreements for these plants say after the completion of the contract, the contractor is at liberty to shift the plants to either their countries of origin or to a country of contractors’ choice.

A controversy erupted soon after the government decided to hire outdated power plants to overcome power shortages.

Mr Ashraf denied allegations against himself and his ministry and recently accused members of the opposition of raising unnecessary hue and cry which, according to him, had pushed the fulfilment of his promise to end loadshedding back by six months.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...ovt-acquires-obsolete-rental-power-plants-010

 

[jha]

these plants nuclear.....???
you can rent them....???? god i got to read more.....