The federal government has announced that there will be no load shedding during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays, in a bid to provide relief to citizens who have been suffering from continued power outages amidst intense heat. The Ministry of Energy has requested data on power generation and consumption from distribution companies to facilitate this decision.
However, the decision comes at a time when the country is facing a severe power shortfall of 6,300 megawatts, which has affected the supply of electricity to various areas. The total demand for electricity is currently at 26,900 megawatts, while the overall generation is only 20,600 megawatts.
The national grid is generating 7,900 megawatts of electricity, with independent power producers contributing an additional 7,700 megawatts. However, it should be noted that electricity generation from nuclear power plants is only reaching 3,130 megawatts, exacerbating the existing crisis.
Power distribution companies have reported that they are facing difficulties in meeting the demand of their consumers, especially during peak hours. They have also complained about the lack of fuel supply and maintenance issues that have hampered their operations.
The government’s announcement of no-load shedding during the Eid holidays is a welcome step for the citizens who are looking forward to celebrating the festival with their families and friends. Though, it remains to be seen how the government will manage to ensure an uninterrupted power supply without compromising the quality and safety of the system.
The government also needs to address the root causes of the power crisis and devise long-term solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the energy sector.
