The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has warned that loadshedding duration across the
city would be increased to 14 hours a day when gas supply from the Sui Southern Gas Company decreases
by up to 80 Million Metric Cubic Feet Daily (MMCFD) due to the Annual Turn-Around (ATA) of Bhit Gas
Field that starts from April 11.
The KESC Chief Financial Officer, Tayyab Tareen, told newsmen at a briefing on Thursday that talks were
on with SSGC officials and other authorities concerned that gas supply to the KESC should not decrease to
as low as 80 MMCFD but in case this happened then the power utility would have no option but to
drastically increase load shedding. He said the KESC had been working on the plan for increased load
shedding schedule in case the gas pressure dropped to the minimum of 80 MMCFD. In such a scenario of
reduced gas supply the KESC would not be in a position to maintain exemption from load shedding to
industrial areas of the city and the industrial estates could also face load shedding by up to eight hours.
