The menace of loadshedding and no respite in sight

from Good Governance Forum
to mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
date Jun 25, 2009 3:43 PM
subject The menace of loadshedding and no respite in sight
mailed-by gmail.com

Hon'ble Chief Justice of Pakistan
Islamabad

Your Honour:

Respectfully, I submit that:

1. Minister for Water & Power, Government of Pakistan, has repeatedly stated in public that there will be NO loadshedding after Dec 2009. The documents of the past regime show estimates of deficit in supply and demand every year touching 13,651 MW by 2020.

2. WAPDA Vision 2020 Progam envisaged completion of 5 mega hydropower projects of 9500 MW by 2016 at estimated cost of US$ 20.3 billion. The projects cannot possibly be completed by 2016 when the tenders are yet to be floated, funds are yet to be committed and construction work is yet to start.

The program promises that 14 new projects are under study for producing 20,770 MW at estimated cost of US$ 32.15 billion. However, there is no public disclosure about the starting and completion dates, sources of funds, etc. Daimer-Basha Dam is to be constructed at estimated cost of US$ 11 billion to produce 4500MW but the public does not know when it will start and when it will be completed.

3. Minister of Water & Power, Govt of Pakistan, in his media conference on 31st March 2009, assured the people that the deficit in the supply and demand will be reduced to 165MW in April 2009, 800MW in June 2009 and 2500MW in Dec 2009. The present shortfall in June is estimated at over 2000 MW. Last year, we had peak shortfall of 7075MW in July. The public does'nt know what is going to happen to them in July 009.

4. According to govt sources, the installed capacity in the country stands at 19,505 MW with thermal at 12,580 MW (65%), hydel at 6,463 MW (33%) and nuclear at 462 MW (2%). Against this, the PEPCO stated in a press statement that it was producing 12,000 MW.

5. Planning Commission has estimated that the country will have demand of 19,600 MW in 2008-2009 and 21,500 MW in 2009-2010. How will the country get rid of loadshedding by Dec 2009 is hard to understand.

As the Founder of the Good Governance Forum -the Largest, the Most Diversified and the Most Globally Searched forum - I respectfully submit to Your Honour to direct the Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan, to make public:

1. The factual data of the present generating capacity of each unit in the private and public sectors, the current electricity demand in each city/region in the country, the current electricity production of each generating unit, the current electricity supply to each city/region in the country.

2. The factual data of the number of hours of loadshedding in each city/region in the country and the electricity saved from loadshedding.

3. The new generating units under construction in the private and public sectors, the production capacity of each unit, and the date of completion of each unit.

4. The planned new projects which are yet to be started for floatation of tenders, commitment of funds and launching of construction
and completion. Separate data for each planned new project needs to be made public.

5. The planned expansion of existing generating units, their production capacity, and starting and completion dates. Separate data for each project needs to be made public.

Respectfully, I submit that the loadshedding throughout the country has made the lives of domestic consumers miserable; commercial and industrial sectors are losing sales, income and profit; exporters are finding it impossible to execute export orders on time. It will certainly adversely affect the revenue generation of the federal, provincial and district governments and reduce the inflow of foreign exchange earnings.

Respectfully, I submit that while the loadshedding coupled with shutdowns for maintenance is going on for 8 to 12 hours every day, the consumer bills do not reflect the corresponding reduction in their consumption of electricity. The government has no right to enhance the electricity tariff for its consumers to pay for the inefficiency of the generating units and the line losses of the transmission and distribution companies.

Submitted for due consideration.

Signed by
Mumtaz A. Piracha
Founder & Moderator
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Tel: 042-5503936
Cell: 0300-2265424