Karachi may face 17 hours of loadshedding: KE spokesperson

• KE says industrial areas will also have to face loadshedding.
  
• It says company will minimise gas supply if KE remains a defaulter.
• KE owes SSGC Rs2.46 billion and another payment of Rs8.6 billion.

KARACHI: Electricity loadshedding in Karachi is expected to increase to 17 hours after the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) Friday informed K-Electric of reducing the gas supply due to the non-payment of the bills. 

The SSGC officials said if KE remains a defaulter, then the company would have no other option than to minimise the gas supply. "SSGC is already moving 100% of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to KE," they added. 

In this regard, KE's spokesperson said that the company is facing issues in paying the bill due to a five-fold increase in the price of gas. "The KE is generating 500MW of electricity with RLNG. If the gas supply stops, the company will fail to generate 500MW of electricity which could lead to 17 hours of loadshedding," he added. 

According to SSGC, KE already owes Rs2.46 billion and another payment of Rs8.6 billion to the company, which is due on June 3 (today). 

KE said that the industrial areas will also have to face loadshedding.