KARACHI, Jan 14: With Karachiites already bracing themselves for prolonged power outages this winter, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has directed the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (Kanupp) to stop power generation unless the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) ensures foolproof restoration of its two circuits linking the nuclear power plant with the power utility.
Kanupp, which was supplying over 85 megawatts to the KESC, went off the line as the KESC circuit at Baldia developed a fault around 2.40am, dealing a bitter blow to the utility already facing a shortfall of about 350 megawatts due to a fall in its own generation and a drop in supplies from the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
Blaming the KESC for the frequent tripping of the two circuits, a Kanupp spokesman said that the PNRA had advised that unless both the circuits at Baldia were not reinforced and restored the nuclear facility should not resort to a start-up exercise so as to avert any further problems.
It is worth noting that the KESC remained hooked on one circuit with Kanupp since Dec 30 as the private sector utility had assured that the other circuit would be restored soon. But the KESC failed to keep its promise, the spokesman said.
He said that the KESC had informed the relevant authorities with the nuclear power plant that the link would not be safe to operate before two or three weeks. “These safety measures have been taken by Kanupp to avert any problems with safety valves and leakages due to tripping,” he said.
According to sources in the nuclear power plant, Kanupp suffered 11 shutdowns during 2007 due to transients or failure of the transmission lines.
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has been pressing the KESC to improve the reliability of the transmission lines and the PNRA had warned the PAEC that Kanupp would not be allowed to operate if the reliability of the transmission lines did not improve. Rehabilitation of the transmission lines was one of the actions in the improvement plan prepared by the KESC, they said, adding that work on one of the lines had been completed and the rehabilitation of the second line was started by the KESC early this month.
At that time, the PNRA had directed that if this only source of power was lost, Kanupp should not restart until both transmission lines were fully restored.
They, however, expressed the hope that the KESC would be able to complete the rehabilitation of the second transmission line within the stipulated time.
Power shortage
Meanwhile, Karachiites should be prepared for long hours of power outages this winter as the KESC is facing a power generation shortfall of 450 megawatts and there are chances of a gap of 350 megawatts in supply and demand.
Unit I and II of the KESC’s flagship generating plant at Bin Qasim are out of action for maintenance. Unit one, which was providing 130 megawatts, has been closed for planned maintenance and is expected back on the line by Jan 16. Unit two supplying 145 megawatts was shut down on Jan 9 reportedly due to a turbine problem.
Korangi Thermal Power Station, which was generating 80 megawatts, has been out of action since Dec 12. It originally had four units, but two of them have become obsolete and only two are functioning, though not at full capacity.
According to sources in the KESC, the problem aggravated when the 500KV NKI Jamshoro circuit of Wapda tripped around 2.40am causing a major power outage as supplies from Wapda had been slashed from 500 to 300 megawatts recently. It also caused an outage of Kanupp, which was providing over 85 megawatts.
They said that the utility had decided to increase the duration of load-shedding in the city to four hours during day and night. However, the KESC did not give specific time schedule for the power cuts in groups. The day time load-shedding will commence from 10am, the morning peak hour, and will last until 4pm. The evening cycle will commence from 6pm.
The KESC sources said the demand load was at the moment 1,482MW due to winter season, but in view of the depleting generation capacity the problem would be enormous.
The utility has not been able to surmount the problem of power generation shortage and distribution despite the exit of Siemens from the utility.
