Gas pipeline explosion cuts Pakistan capacity by 1000 MW

• 13 years ago (2011-04-05)
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Natural gas supplies to Pakistani independent power producers (IPPs) have been affected badly by a rupture in one of the main pipelines, causing reduction in electricity generation capacity by 1000 MW, said a senior official of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco).

Pepco Director General Eng Muhammad Khalid said the gas supply to five IPPs from the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) was cut due to an explosion in the 32-inch pipeline coming from Balochistan.

He said the IPPs, namely Orient Power, Sapphire Electric, Saif Power, Rousch Power and Fauji Kabirwala, were hit hard by the suspension to the gas supply, causing a shortfall in electricity production.

Khalid further explained that the SNGPL had not given any time frame for restoration of supply to the IPPs. He assured electricity consumers that the loadshedding period currently under way would lessen as soon as gas supply to the power plants was restored. Until then, it was a “regretted inconvenience being faced by consumers”.