Pakistan's Power Crisis: Minister Confirms 6-7 Hours of Daily Load Shedding
Power Minister Awais Leghari on Thursday confirmed that Pakistan is implementing six to seven hours of daily load management, a figure nearly three times higher than the government's earlier publicly announced commitment. He issued a public apology, attributing the crisis to LNG supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war and reduced hydropower generation.
Apology and Blame on External Factors
"If the public is facing any inconveniences due to us not providing electricity at night and during peak hours, I am directly answerable and apologise," Leghari stated during a press conference in Islamabad. "But the circumstances are such that they are not in our control." He emphasized that the situation stems from international conflicts and natural resource limitations.
3,400MW Shortfall Triggers Extended Cuts
The minister revealed that Pakistan is grappling with a shortfall of approximately 3,400 megawatts, primarily due to decreased hydropower output and a sharp decline in LNG-based generation. "Every 500-600MW shortfall translates into one hour of load management," Leghari explained, confirming the necessity of six to seven hours of average load management nationwide.
He asserted that the load management schedule is applied "without any discrimination between urban and rural areas" and noted no load management during daytime off-peak hours. Key factors contributing to the crisis include:
- Pakistan's LNG-fired plants, with a capacity of about 6,000 MW, are producing only around 500 MW due to severe gas shortages.
- Qatar's force majeure declaration, stemming from the Iran war, has disrupted LNG imports, forcing the country to seek alternatives.
- Hydropower output has plummeted to approximately 1,600 MW, roughly half of last April's level, due to reduced water releases from Mangla and Tarbela dams.
Demand Spikes from 9,000MW to 20,000MW
Leghari highlighted unusual fluctuations in power demand this month, driven by weather conditions. Minimum demand was recorded at 9,000MW on April 9, surging to a peak of 20,000MW just six days later on April 15. He explained that demand exceeding 16,500MW necessitates load management.
"A shortfall occurs when demand goes beyond 16,500MW after consuming every fuel resource — imported coal, local coal, nuclear, hydropower and solar power," he said. "In the absence of gas, the country has no other fuel to fulfil its requirements."
The minister clarified that Karachi and Hyderabad power supply areas face no additional cuts, except for routine economic load management by K-Electric in high-loss zones.
Nuclear Maintenance Postponed and Fuel Cost Impact
In response to the crisis, the government has postponed maintenance of nuclear power plants for several weeks, with no scheduled shutdowns until July. All available resources, including diplomatic channels, have been mobilized to secure alternative fuel supplies.
Regarding costs, Leghari noted that the positive fuel cost adjustment next month will be around Rs1.3 per unit, compared to Rs1.8 per unit two months ago. He warned that without load management, fuel costs would have risen significantly due to full utilization of furnace oil and diesel-based plants.
Future Outlook and Public Appeal
The minister indicated a slight improvement is expected as dam discharges have been increased by 15,000 cusecs to 25,000 cusecs, which should enhance hydropower generation. He appealed to consumers to conserve power to help navigate the international crisis.
This power crisis underscores Pakistan's vulnerability to external geopolitical events and natural resource fluctuations, with the government scrambling to mitigate impacts on daily life and the economy.
