LAHORE: The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has sought handing over of 132kV grids and transmission lines — meant for evacuating power from the entire wind power plants (WPPs) in Sindh — to Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) with immediate effect for better operation and maintenance (O&M) of the system.

Since the NTDC has desired to do so after witnessing cases related to theft of precious parts and equipment installed at the lines, towers, etc and power disruptions due to non-maintenance, it has almost stopped carrying out various maintenance-related activities due to administrative and technical issues, Dawn learnt on Saturday.

“It seems that the system (132kV grids & transmission) evacuating power from the WPPs lacks effective monitoring, operation and maintenance for the smooth supply of electricity to the consumers through respective distribution companies. The situation is getting worse and costing the government heavily,” an NTDC official told Dawn.

System evacuating power from wind plants lacks effective monitoring, operation

“I want to clarify that the NTDC is only responsible to build, operate and maintain the 220kV and 500kV grids and transmission lines system to evacuate, transmit and despatch power and above and not the 132kV system that is supposed to be looked after by the power distribution companies (Discos). But here in Sindh, the 132kV system installed to evacuate, transmit and despatch power is being dealt by the NTDC surprisingly,” the official requesting anonymity explained.

According to a recent communication, in the south region, NTDC’s Project Delivery Department was responsible for constructing the 132kV transmission lines emanating from WPPs which were connected to 132kV grid stations (Hesco’s power system network) and to 220kV grid stations (NTDC’s network). In this regard, the letter, written to the NTDC managing director by a senior NTDC official, revealed that the first WPP, namely FFCEL, began its commercial operation in 2013. However at present, 15 WPPs, generating power around 774.975MW, are connected with the 220kV grid at Jhimpir through 132kV lines whereas six other WPPs generating 308MW are connected with Hesco network through 132kV system while three WPPs of 149MW are connected with the K-Electric network.

The letter said that after construction of 132kV power system network, the NTDC’s Project Delivery Unit had to handover it to Hesco being the custodian but the same was still pending due to unknown reasons and was still being maintained by the NTDC in case of breakdowns, severe faults and other issues since 2013. The letter further noted that it was clear that the NTDC was primarily mandated to operate and maintain this system. It reveals that this setup and formation is not suited to NTDC as it has no manpower for preventive/corrective measures.

“Keeping in view these facts, it is asserted that the aforementioned lines are not being patrolled/maintained through any organisation or department. Resultantly there is theft of braces, part from being susceptible to heavy wind storms owing to their geographical setting,” the letter read. Moreover, the outages/collapses of 132kV lines have been occurring which are being restored on emergency basis only by the NTDC’s project deliver unit and goes unaccounted for.

“Hence it is requested to handover this system to Hesco being the custodian of 132kV network on priority basis or, at least, give them under control of NTDC’s asset management wing for proper operation and maintenance in a bid to avert loss of millions of rupees in the form of energy losses, breakdowns, emergency repairs, theft etc,” the letter suggested.

When contacted, NTDC Managing Director Manzoor Ahmad admitted the facts, stating that once, while he was posted as GM in the company, he had talked the then Hesco CEO to take over these lines. “But he didn’t do so, probably due to lack of resources. But on the other hand we are not supposed to operate and maintain these lines under obligations of the license,” he explained. The MD said he would soon visit Sindh to hold a meeting with the Hesco management and convince it to take over the system for better O&M activities.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2022