Power outages to continue till 2017: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif Monday said power loadshedding was likely to continue by the end of summer 2017.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister claimed that the entire power system that completely collapsed as a result of subversive activities will be restored by Monday evening.
After coming into power one year back, the PML-N government had also unveiled a new energy policy saying that loadshedding would continue for the next three years. The same situation of power loadshedding still prevails. Highlighting the supply situation following a massive countrywide breakdown, he said government was making efforts to ensure zero loadshedding for the industrial sector in the next two to three days. “Eight-hour loadshedding will be carried out in rural and six hours in urban areas,” he said while unveiling the load management plan.
Asif said steps had been taken to enhance the security of power installations.
He said an inquiry had also been ordered into the power breakdown, which will submit its report within 48 hours.
He said the USAID and China State Grid had been requested for technical assistance to avoid complete blackouts in future.
“Hydel power generation is also gradually increasing after the reopening of canals,” he said, adding that the release of water from Tarbela and Mangla dams will bring 6,000 MW electricity to the system. However, he ruled out that the power crisis was due to shortage of oil.
He said 12 cargoes had been booked through the Pakistan State Oil which would start arriving from Tuesday (today). He said his ministry owed around Rs170 billion to the PSO and was trying to clear the outstanding dues in installments.
The minister said the agreement with K-Electric for supply of 650 MWs to Karachi had expired.
The government, he said, will contact the electric company for a new agreement on new terms and conditions.
He said it was utmost effort of the government to ensure equitable load shedding from Karachi to Peshawar as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
To a question, the minister clarified that the government was not increasing but decreasing the power tariff.
Asked about the privatization of Discos, Khawaja Asif said the government was pursuing the policy of the previous PPP and MQM coalition government.