Pakistan In Midst Of Energy Crisis - Blackouts 10 Hrs/Day In Islamabad, Worse In Countryside [View All]

[hatrack]

ISLAMABAD- In the aftermath of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s tragic killing on December 27, 2007, national economy is faced with an early energy crisis that had already been predicted to hit the country in 2009-10.

Although the outgoing government of former premier Shaukat Aziz paid a lot of lip service to the country’s energy security, no tangible measure pre-empting a looming large energy famine could surface until the end of its tenure on November 15, 2007. Now the law and order turbulence consequent upon murder of Benazir Bhutto, that President General (r) Pervez Musharraf termed as martyrdom, not only chocked countrywide mobility for a few days but also resulted in unprecedented power load-shedding. According to reports received here from across the country, average electricity outage has reached 12 to 16 hours out of 24 hours, save the metropolis cities like Islamabad. Even in the outskirts of the capital city, consumers are faced with more than 10 hours load-shedding every day.

The caretaker ministry of water and power has described the power crisis like situation as a resultant of both the seasonal water shortage and growing imbalance between the demand and supply of gas. The energy managers who gather Thursday to find a way out of the acute shortages already hit the country were hardly mindful of trickle down effect of the international energy heat.
According to some insiders, the caretaker set-up was in a fix to handle the imminent energy shortage with the international crude oil crossed lifetime high of $100 a barrel, as they were already scuffling with the scarcity of water and gas, both essential to generate electricity.

It is quite understandable that the availability of water was low due to weather conditions and gas was failing to meet its skyrocketing demand, chiefly on part of the domestic consumers for low temperature. While the low temperature in winter generates more demand by the domestic consumers, it also affects the flow of the gas.

EDIT

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/jan-2008/4/index3.php