NTDC response to ‘Transmission Discrepancies’

This refers to the article ‘Transmission discrepancies’ published in The News on October 3, 2016, which was attributed to the projects of transmission lines and grid stations of National Transmission and Desptach Company (NTDC). The observations in the article did not reflect actual realities and updated information about NTDC projects.

The maximum generation recorded was 17,430MW (coincident demand) on June 19, 2016 which was evacuated through NTDC network against the 16,000MW mentioned in the article. Besides, NTDC transmission system has the capabilities to serve all additional demands on non-coincident basis.

With regards to inter-connectivity of new plants, all interconnection schemes for different plants have been completed before scheduled commercial operation dates. For evacuation of power from Nandipur Power House to 220kV grid station Sahuwala (Sialkot), transmission line has been constructed on 220kV design and parameters.

However, the line was energised on 132kV level in 2014 before the commission of said Nandipur power plant. Whereas, the transmission line for interconnections of Allai Khwar and Duber Khwar Power Stations was completed/energised in 2013.

NTDC was completing its projects on war footing for evacuation of power from planned power projects.

The overall progress for Phase-I of 500kV Neelum-Jhelum Transmission Line project was about 78 percent, whereas tender was in process for procurement of material etc, for the evacuation of power from Tarbela-4 extension. These projects would be completed prior to the commissioning of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant and Tarbela 4th Extension.

As far as the connectivity of nuclear power plants (C-3, C4) with national grid was concerned, NTDC has already completed 220 kV transmission line Chashma-Bannu in October 2015, but said power plants have yet to start generation.

NTDC was fully aware of its responsibility thus completing its projects well in time, 65.8 percent construction work of 500kV transmission line has been completed for evacuation of power from Bhikki power project. The overall progress of 500kV grid station New Lahore has reached 57 percent.

The works on 500kV grid stations DG Khan, Shikarpur and extension at Ghazi Barotha have also been completed. The 220kV grid station Chishtian has been energised on October 5, 2016.

However, the projects of 220kV grid station Gujrat and Dera Murad Jamali were in advanced stage and overall progress was 85 percent and 84.06 percent respectively.

The National Power System Expansion Plan (NPSEP-2030) completed in 2011 depicted peak demand of 41,747MW and 45,618MW in the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively.

The same was worked on the basis of assumption of a high annual growth rate of 9.05 percent. Whereas a growth rate of 5.89 percent was considered while conducting Regression-Based Analysis (previous years’ growth) which came out to be 25,651MW and 27,590MW in the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively.

An addition of 10,000MW in the existing installed capacity of approximately 23, 000MW by 2018, against a peak demand of 27,590MW as per above analysis would take us in surplus MWs resulting in the end of power shortfall.