Power, gas supply to improve by Monday as LNG restored to distribution system: Hammad Azhar

“The distribution system will have at least 70 per cent LNG supply restored by tomorrow as supply has been restored from today,” the minister said while addressing a presser.

He claimed that the 40 per cent supply had already been ensured two days ago.

The minister said Tarbela Dam is running on 20 to 25 per cent capacity because of diminishing water level, adding the production of hydel power would increase in days to come.

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Azhar said up to 90 per cent gas is in the distribution system after repair of the Sui Southern Gas plant, while 24,000MW power is being supplied to the country.

“Some people attempted to gain political mileage on power loadshedding and those who had faced 12-hour loadshedding their tenures were also critical of ongoing power shortages.”

Azhar said the government had brought down circular debt from Rs450 billion to Rs177 billion, adding energy projects of 26,000MW are in the process of construction.

“We are trying to remove lacunas in the power distribution system,” he further said.        

The minister said shortage of RLNG was overcome by diverting local gas to the power plants. Domestic and commercial consumption of electricity witnessed 6.7 per cent and 15 per cent increase respectively, he added.

Hammad said that in past the distribution system could only transmit 16000 MW. Now distribution and transmission system has been upgraded during last 2 years and successfully transmitted around 25000 MW, he said.

The minister said its capacity would further be enhanced to 10,000 MW in next few years.
He said in next eight years, more 26,000 MW generation would add to the system resulting payment of Rs 400 billion under head of capacity payment.

He said priority was only given to power generation and no investment was made in power transmission system in the past.

The minister said that the government has successfully overcome circular debt crisis as only Rs 177 billion increase in circular debt was expected this year owing to the effective steps taken by the government.

Azhar said Rs360 billion decrease was expected in the circular debt this fiscal year 2020-21 as compared to previous financial year.