Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir has expressed hope that load shedding will start decreasing in next 10 days.
The Energy Minister also said that due to non-availability of fuel and closure of power plants, more than 5,000 MW shortfall is being faced.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, April 29, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir said that there was a power crisis in the country and load shedding was taking place on a large scale.
Explaining the reasons for the power crisis, he said that there were two main reasons for the load shedding. Due to non-availability of fuel, the capacity of 5739 MW has been cut off. Due to non-availability of fuel, the capacity is 5,739 MW.
We are trying not to make the situation worse during Eid.
Khurram Dastgir further said that the government will start receiving RNLG from the day after tomorrow.
The Thar Engro and Port Qasim plants will start generating electricity from tomorrow.
Getting furnace oil and gas will reduce load shedding.
According to the energy minister, gas supply from the government will start from May 1.
When asked if it was not possible now that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed to end load shedding from May 1, to which the energy minister said that in the last one week, demand has increased from two to three thousand megawatts of electricity.
The Federal Minister said that the supply of gas from the government is expected from May 1 and the issues of load shedding will be resolved gradually from May 1.
Khurram Dastgir blamed the former government for the unavailability of fuel and technical glitches.
There is an additional demand for electricity due to the heat.
We pray to Allah that the heat will melt the ice so that the additional demand for electricity can be met.
Khurram Dastgir said that after briefing the Prime Minister, the power was increased by 2 to 3 thousand megawatts.
The Prime Minister was given an estimate of 20 thousand megawatts and we are working on the estimate of 23 thousand megawatts.
The Federal Minister said that due to the criminal negligence of the former government, the plants have been shut down since December 13, 2021.
The 760 MW plants of RLNG have been shut down since the time of the previous government.
If they come again, they are facing power crisis. Continuing, he said that we have requested the government that on May 25 we have a demand of Rs 108 billion, till June 7 we have a demand of Rs 136 billion and on June 15 we need Rs 85 billion for power generation.
He said that we should not only supply electricity to Islamabad but also provide facilities to Pakistani brothers and sisters in all corners of Pakistan.
The Federal Minister said that due to the incompetence of the previous government, many power plants have been shut down since December 13, 2021.
If there was no demand then it would not have made any difference but now the demand has increased.