Major power breakdown hits most parts of Punjab, KP, Balochistan
The gross production of electricity has reached 12000 MW.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Most parts of Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered a major power breakdown on Wednesday following technical fault in Tarbela, Muzaffargarh and Guddu power plant.
A four-member investigating committee has been formed by the power division to probe the reasons behind technical fault in the power plants. The Committee, headed by Additional Secretary of the Division, consists of three system experts.
It will ascertain as to why the system failed, how effective were the efforts to restore system and would make recommendations to avoid recurrence of the situation in future.
According to latest reports, the electricity is said to be restored partially after 10-hours of power cut. Ghazi Barotha and Mangla problem has been resolved. Spokesman of the Power Division has expressed confidence that electricity would be refurbished to all affected areas soon.
The spokesperson for power division said that the power stations remained shut due to the fault, leaving a major part of the country without power. He says that Mangla, Ghazi Barotha, Tarbela have been connected with the national grid.
Ministry of Energy maintained that damage to 500 KV supply line in Muzaffargarh resulted in the tripping of several power plants including Guddu and Tarbela. Meanwhile, National Power Control system adopted stance that the system went down due to low power frequency and the country would have suffered a blackout if the power was not cut off.
However; NTDC says that the breakdown occured due to low production of electricity. The power production is below than the average. Due to shortage of fuel, thermal power plant is also producing electricity in stumpy amount. Consequently, the system tripped due to high demand and less production.
The gross production of electricity has reached 12000 MW whereas the process to restore power has been initiated.
The parliament and other provincical assemblies also plunged into darkness from while some of the floors of parliament are being supplied electricity from alternate sources.
The spokesperson says that the staff of National Power Control is busy eradicating the technical fault and power is expected to be restored soon.
On the other hand, Minister for Power Awais Leghari has said that electricity is being restored to the system after certain power plants tripped off in the provinces.
Speaking in the National Assembly on the blackout, the minister told that the situation has been normalized in the federal capital. However, it will take two to three hours to fully restore the power system. He said an inquiry will also be conducted to detect the causes of the blackout.
The minister explained that Secretary Power Division himself is sitting in the National Power Control Centre in Islamabad to monitor the situation closely.
