Load shedding crisis in Karachi is expected to increase massively in the coming week in Karachi as the agreement between K-Electric and National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) for supply of 650 mega watts of electricity is going to expire on 26th of January while no new agreement has yet been signed. The situation may lead to another electricity crisis in Karachi if a new agreement is not reached.
A meeting between Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and NTDC and K-Electric for a new agreement was held in Islamabad on Tuesday but no agreement could be reached. Next round of talks is expected during the current week.
According to K-Electric sources the addition of 650 MW in the national grid will only add 3 to 4 percent of electricity in the national grid and minimize the load shedding by 15 minutes only while if the 650 MW of electricity is not provided to Karachi, it will intensify the load shedding crisis in the largest city and industrial hub of the country. The electricity duration in the city may extend to 12 hours a day while load shedding in the load-shedding free industrial areas will damage the industrial production badly.
Karachi’s requirement of electricity is 2000 mega watts during winters and it exceeds 3000 MW in summers. K-Electric’s current production capacity is 1700 MW which is not enough for meeting the requirements of the giant metropolis. Supply of 650 mega watts to Karachi from national grid is thus inevitable.
However the PML-N led central government has obstinately refused to renew the agreement knowing full well that it will have a catastrophic effect on the city of Karachi.
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