KESC warns of further loadshedding

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KARACHI: While the citizens of Karachi continued to bear up to 10 hours long power loadshedding, the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on Friday warned the public to increase the loadshedding duration due to "further cut in gas supply".

In a statement on Friday, the KESC strongly condemned the "unilateral" SSGC decision to cut the gas supply to the power utility by 20 MMCFD, saying that it would add to the hardships of 20 million people of Karachi already facing extensive power failures.

"Continuing short supply of gas had already forced shutdown of gas-fired generation units, doubling loadshedding duration as a result. The mounting public anger and mob attacks at the utility's business and maintenance offices has become a big issue for the KESC, and the SSGC is actually responsible (for the situation)."

The KESC apprehended that public reaction might worsen with the fresh SSGC reduction of 20 MMCFD in gas supply. "This crisis could be avoided; the SSGC could be better off financially and operationally by implementing the June 30 Cabinet decision on gas load management."

They reiterated the offer to pay double the amount of cash every day for every molecule of gas above 200 MMCFD; half of it going to arrears.

While contradicting the SSGC claim of outstanding amount, the KESC said that since the meeting at the Governor House on July 29, the power utility had paid almost Rs15 billion to the SSGC and PSO combined, including Rs3.2 billion for the past arrears.