Iran electricity could ease Pakistan energy crisis

Islamabad, Jan 7, IRNA -- Pakistan who is facing immense electricity crisis nowadays can overcome this crippling problem by accepting Iran’s offer of exporting electricity to energy starved Pakistan. Various parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan are facing prolonged power outages as three units of 747MW and several circuits of 500KV and 220KV tripped owing to dense fog and cold weather conditions, causing a shortfall of 2,977MW in the national grid. The residents in different districts of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab are facing problem due to the power outages. The power system of the country has not been normalized despite hectic efforts of the engineers as various transmission lines, grid stations and power plants tripped on the morning of January 2, apparently due to extreme weather conditions and severe fog. Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan has directed the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) to depute additional ground teams and enhance monitoring in fog-prone areas in order to timely rectify any fault occurring in high transmission lines besides taking precautionary measures to avoid tripping. Due to cold winter season Pakistan’s hydroelectric power generation has also been dropped to lowest level. Iran as an energy surplus country can help solve Pakistan energy problems through its vast recourses. The country with its expertise in the sector can also build new transmission lines in Pakistan which can bare the high voltages and extreme weather conditions. Iran is the largest exporter of electricity in the Middle East and exports power to Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran currently exports over 100 MW of electricity to Pakistan. Iran and Pakistan have already signed IP gas pipeline project but it is still not materialized yet. The project if completed would bring Iranian natural gas to Pakistan and help Pakistan to resolve its energy crisis and boosting its ailing industry. Iran has also offered Pakistan to increase its electricity exports to the country upto 3,000 MW. Meanwhile Pakistan Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan during a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost has assured that Power Division will soon hold comprehensive discussion with Iranian side on renewal of agreement for 100 MW electricity import to Pakistan from Iran. Last year Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost had said his country was ready to supply up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity to Pakistan. Reports say that low voltage, tripping and unannounced long hours power cuts are likely to continue until weather conditions improve. Experts say extreme weather conditions coupled with dense fog has exposed the vulnerability of the entire power sector i.e. generation, transmission and distribution. The government still has to improve transmission and distribution to avoid such untoward incident again, they say. Follow us on Twitter@IrnaEnglish