ISLAMABAD: The government has redirected gas supplies to power sector to reduce the country’s growing electricity shortage, increasing allocations to 150mmcfd from 108mmcfd by suspending 48 mmcfd previously provided to CNG sector.
Despite this increase, the power sector still faces a major deficit. Its total demand is around 450mmcfd, while Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited is currently supplying only 150mmcfd, leaving a shortfall of about 300mmcfd. This gap is limiting ability of gas-fired power plants to operate at full capacity.
Officials said gas supply is being prioritised for households during peak cooking times, with availability ensured for four hours each at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meanwhile, export-oriented industrial sector is receiving uninterrupted gas for processing, along with 30mmcfd allocated to captive power plants.
Fertilizer production is also being supported, with Agritech Limited plant receiving 24mmcfd. With the arrival of an LNG vessel at PGPL terminal tomorrow (April 30), gas shortfall in power sector is expected to decrease. At the same time, Power Division has increased reliance on hydropower generation. Water releases from Tarbela Dam have boosted output, with hydropower generation reaching about 6,000 megawatts during Monday night’s peak hours, out of a total installed capacity of 11,500 megawatts. The increased hydropower contribution has helped stabilise national grid, allowing about 500 megawatts of electricity to be transmitted from southern regions. Improved system stability also enabled some power plants to increase output using locally available gas, adding another 100 megawatts to the grid.
