December 26, 2009
By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: Karachi Electric Supply Company’s (KESC) new grid station installed at Gulshan-e Maymar was officially inaugurated on Tuesday. City nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had performed the inauguration. The new grid station is claimed to cater to around 17,000 new consumers mainly city new industrial zone, the SITE-II alongwith domestic consumers, as well.
Speaking on the occasion Ahsan Arshad of SITE-II Association claimed that with the start of the grid station, foreign investors have in acclamation to KESC’s efforts showed their interest to shift their capital from Punjab to city.
Speaking on the occasion, the KESC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tabish Gauhar said that the utility had assured the government for 9 new grid stations of which 6 have so far been installed. The new grid station installed at Gulshan-e Maymar has cost the utility Rs 460 million and it was completed in 11 months.
The CEO claimed that the grid station would cater to power needs of SITE-II, Housing projects of scheme 33, Federal A and B areas where power load was enhanced while the system had depreciated to end.
The CEO further claimed that the utility has till date invested Rs 20 billion in the system of which Rs 16 billion were drawn from Al-Abraaj’s shareholders while the remaining Rs 4 billion was from Federal government. Thus, the utility has thus added 450 MW to the system, he added.
The CEO said that certain projects for further improvement work in many of city areas worth Rs 2.5 billion would be completed by Jun 30, 2010.
The CEO alleged the theft of power in city was rampant due to which the utility was driven to shed load. The utility could not offer any guarantee as when the load shedding would come to an end until the theft of power was not fully eliminated. The theft of power was the key reason behind utility’s financial deficits, which has prevented it spending money on purchase of fuel oil, he added.
The CEO said that the utility could not overcome the power crisis with investments only but the leakages and thefts need to be eliminated promptly. “We could not give any deadline for end to load shedding unless the theft of power was not stopped”.
As well, there was a gas supply shortage as the utility in Dec had received just 100 million cubic feet (cu/ft) instead of 190 million cu/ft, he said.
The CEO said that two of Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station’s power generation units were completely outdated and has been closed for maintenance work.
The CEO said that the utility was passing through severe financial deficits while outstanding dues have reached upto Rs 45 billion at government’s end.
The CEO said that the utility would from coming Friday hold open public hearing starting from Gulshan-e Iqbal Town in order to listen to their grievances, complaints and suggestions regarding KESC.
The CEO said that the increases in power tariff were due to rise in fuel oil at international markets.
“The utility has around 18,000 faithful employees and has to take care of these as well, he informed”.
The CEO said that the utility has approached the government to award 40 percent subsidy to the poor consumers while the accumulated revenue would be returned to the consumers in terms of better services and system, he claimed.
The CEO said there was a gap between supply and demand suggesting that energy conservation plan should be adopted in full letter and spirit, which could ensure saving around 200 MW.
The CEO said that the utility has proposed that city’s markets should open in the early wee hours and close by 7 pm but if they do not come up with their consent then they should use their private generators after that time.
In his address, city nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal said that criticizing the KESC blatantly was not justified because doing so would levy damage to citizens. Henceforth, care should be taken when condemning the utility. Being citizens, problems at the KESC’s end should also be considered, as the utility was one of national assets.
He said that although the load shedding has levied damage to CDGK’s efforts but the later has always offered its best cooperation to the utility for its efforts for improvements in the system.
The CDGK has also owned the KESC for the last four years. It was an easier job to create a fuss against the utility but since the utility proved they owned the city so the CDGK did not tolerate road cutting and even Karachi water and sewerage Board’s Managing Director was booked in an FIR for road cutting but the KESC was always exempted.
He said that in the prevailing scenario when the institutions have been engulfed by the corruption, the utility looks as if they were the angels so irrespective to ethnic or political affiliations, the utility should be assisted.
He said that those who steal the electricity and do not pay utility bills especially electricity and water were taking Haraam and all their good deeds were useless. Not a single religious scholar ever preached for the true Jihad, not to tell lie, not to indulge in power theft, etc.
He said that if power stealing was not eliminated, the load shedding would never end even if a dozens more power utility start their operations.
He urged for appropriate and formal arrangements between the utility and the towns and union council nazims for consolidated efforts for the improvement measures.
He urged the citizens to take up the Jihad for paying KESC’s bills and stop stealing electricity.
He asked what was the difference between mobile snatchers at gunpoint and those that steal the electricity?
Salient Features:
Project 132 KV GULSHAN-E-MAYMAR GRID STATION with Capacity of 40 MVA is an outdoor station and hybrid of conventional and GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) with control and monitoring through a state-of-art automation system.
Total cost: Rs. 450.29 million
Feeders Energized: 09 Nos.
Areas benefited: Gulshan-e-Maymar area, Ahsanabad Area, New Societies in KDA Scheme-33, SITE-II Industrial Area.
Feeders:
1.Maymar Complex
2. Kali Market
3. Ahsanabad
4. Pole – 21 RMU
5. Pole 19/5
6. Chambelli RMU
7. NCB
8. Win Mark
9. Sector ‘R’
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