Govt Striving to Provide Immediate Relief and Shield Consumers from Future Power Tariff Burden
Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari stated on Monday that the government is making concerted efforts to provide immediate relief to consumers from load shedding, as well as protect them from an additional burden on electricity prices in the future.
Talking to media along with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Leghari attributed the current gas supply constraints to the ongoing US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting the availability of gas cargoes. He noted that difficulties in gas and RLNG supply due to regional and global energy challenges have created challenges in power generation and meeting electricity demand.
However, Leghari assured that the government is taking effective measures to improve power supply and minimize the transfer of additional energy costs to consumers. He highlighted efforts to enhance local gas availability, secure additional RLNG, and address the situation through coordinated efforts among energy-sector institutions.
The minister explained that reduced gas supplies are causing difficulties in meeting electricity demand during nighttime hours, as gas-fired power plants generate around 5,000 MW, playing a crucial role in meeting demand when national demand rises to 20,000-25,000 MW.
Leghari clarified that there is no government-imposed reduction in electricity supply during daytime hours and that no reduction had been made during the day over the past week. He noted that the sharp increase in electricity demand at night makes it difficult to meet requirements without gas-fired power plants, leading to temporary load management.
While the government could purchase expensive gas from the spot market, Leghari stated that doing so would ultimately increase electricity costs for consumers by around Rs5 to Rs6 per unit in the following months. He emphasized, "We are trying to save the public today from paying thousands of rupees more in their electricity bills in the next one or two months."
The minister reaffirmed the government’s utilization of available diesel and coal-based power plants to maximize electricity supply.
