2,376 MW power from thermal plants by 2010
Thursday, January 17, 2008
ISLAMABAD: An additional 2,376 MW power will be generated with the start of 12 thermal power plants in the private sector by 2010.
According to official sources, **major thermal power projects to be completed in two years include the 235 MW Muridke (Shapphire) power project, the 225 MW Orient Thermal power plant, the 225 MW Altas power plant and the 225 MW Halmore Power project Bhikki.
Similarly, 516 MW power will also be generated during two years with start of six hydel power plants in the pubic and private sector with the 130 MW Duber Khwar and 121 MW Allai Khwar projects. **
Sources said the power sector had been facing an increasing gap between supply and demand over the past few years due to the increased electricity use in the country. They said several strategies had been made to reduce power supply deficit within two years, which will help save 750 MW from crisis management and 100 MW from load management by December 2008 and a total of 2,000 MW through crisis management by 2010.
Similarly, 1,750 MW will be saved by 2010 through short-term measures including 1,250 MW through supply side management, 300 MW through load management and 200 through energy conservation. Sources said the use of energy saver bulbs would help save 50 MW in the first phase while in the second phase, 200 MW power could be saved with the use of energy savers in the country.
They said by turning off extra lights and other electrical appliances, 50 MW power could be saved while around 150 MW electricity would be saved with the success of the automated meter reading project for domestic, industrial and commercial areas. They said the energy loss reduction plan would save 300 MW electricity through system reinforcement.
Sources said the Water and Power Ministry had constituted two committees on the directives of the energy task force to take short-term operational measures and medium to long-term development plans to redress the power crisis resulting from the demand and supply gap.
They said all concerned stakeholders including the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), oil and gas companies, the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) were members of the two committees to look into specific operational and planning issues.
They said a crisis management plan had been launched to manage the situation arising out of the supply gap with major components including prudent load management, energy conservation and demand reduction with no major impact on citizens’ convenience.
According to the sources, the power deficit would reduce and further improvements were likely regarding power generation in the shortest time in the country. They said the draft of long-term load forecast up to 2030 would be prepared by February 7 with the final load forecast being prepared by March 7 this year, adding that the load forecast and integrated power plan would be reviewed and updated on a year-by-year rolling basis.
Similarly, power distribution companies (Discos) would initiate a similar planning process to form the input for the integrated power planning of the country. app
More bijli on the way for ever more electrically charged Pakistanis… just be a little bit more patience now please!!!