Technical fault at Bin Qasim power plant causes loadshedding in Karachi

KARACHI: The Karachi-Electric (KE) said Tuesday that certain areas of the city will experience loadshedding due to a technical fault in the Bin Qasim power plant. 

KE spokesperson said that it was facing a 130-megawatt shortfall in electricity due to a technical fault that had occurred at the Bin Qasim Power Plant.

The spokesperson further said that the power generation ability of KE has decreased by 130-megawatts due to the fault, adding that there will be temporary load management in the affected areas.

The spokesperson stated that load management will be carried out in industrial areas to provide relief to residential areas. He further said that the load management’s advance notice has been sent and the schedule can also be accessed on KE’s website.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson also stated that they are in touch with the power ministry regarding the supply of furnace oil and assured that the temporary loadshedding will be finished when the fault is rectified.

No more loadshedding in Karachi, says Asad Umar

Federal minister Asad Umar had said earlier that loadshedding in the country would end by Sunday last week. 

The announcement had come after a high-level meeting was held at the Sindh’s Governor House Saturday where the K-Electric management came under fire from Governor Imran Ismail and Umar over its failure to improve the power distribution network in the city.

Later, the minister and governor visited the protest camp outside K-Electric’s office and promised that there would no unannounced loadshedding in the metropolis from Sunday.

“The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has increased the gas supply to K-Electric to 290mmcf,” Umar had said.

The planning minister added the government would do its best to try to solve the issues of the public. “If the problems are not solved after this, we will take legal action. PTI did not sign any agreement with the KE. If a takeover is needed, that will be done,” he remarked.

Cable operators violated agreement

The spokesperson while talking about the cable and internet association stated that they violated an agreement under which they were supposed to lay their wires underground by July 2020.

The KE spokesperson stated that in the past there have been deaths during rains because of illegal internet and tv cables put up in various parts of the city.

KE stated that cable association had assured commissioner Karachi and other officials that they will remove their wires from KE’s polls, adding that the strike called by the cable and internet association was called to blackmail the company.

The All Pakistan Cable Operators and Internet Association held a token strike on Monday from 7pm to 9m.

The association in a press conference at the Karachi Press Club demanded time to lay their cables underground. The association said that they are providing TV channels and internet service at homes. Mostly for this purpose, the electricity poles of K-Electric (KE) are used. For this purpose, they pointed out that they have an understanding with the power utility.

With the assistance of the KE, the association said, they’re are providing services to their consumers. Several electrocution cases emerged last year after rainfall in the city. However, the KE held all the responsibility of the electrocutions on cable operators and internet service providers.

For the TV cable and internet cable service, the association said that they use fiber optics which is devoid of electricity and isn’t hazardous for life. Because of the power utility, which is on a spree of disconnecting the cables of association, they said that they’re facing millions of rupees loss. The association claimed to have informed the governor Sindh regarding their grievances.