THE observation by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources that there is no certainty to ensure uninterrupted power supply during Ramzan due to some deficiencies in power generation has come as a big shock to the nation fasting from yesterday. News reports quoted him as pointing out that problems at transmission and distribution may disrupt power supply and as such the government can’t guarantee uninterrupted power supply.
Indeed it hears strange when a government Minister speaks that lacks confidence in his own system and ability to keep power supply uninterrupted. The government often produces highly upfront electricity generation figures suggesting it has increased production manifolds. The State Minister said in the recent past that there are enough preparations to meet people’s demand for electricity during Ramzan. We know accidental disruption may happen any time but many fear that the State Minister’s observation is indicative to unexpected breakdown. Otherwise why he should speak something which causes panic to public life? The State Minister must know people want regular power supply during the month of Ramzan and it is his job to ensure it.
There is no need for detailing why people want uninterrupted power supply during this month. It is not only that they need electricity for longer hours at night to cook food and serve family members, in addition to performing prayers. Load-shedding may also cause disruption to water supply; which may in turn disrupt cooking. So these are chain events linked to power failure and the Minister knows it better than anybody else.
In fact the country’s power sector has become the minefield of making undue fortune by setting up rented power plants without credible efforts to develop long term solutions. On most cases some Ministers are also directly or indirectly involved with powerful ruling party men. They are winning unsolicited contracts for power plants at higher selling rates to the government while sourcing fuel at lower cost.
Under the prevailing system big power plants are facing delays because they produces in bulk and their per unit cost is lower. So rental power plants are supply the bulk of the demand and since they operate with old power generation machines procured at lower cost, power generation in such plants often faces disruption by unforeseen break down of the system.The State Minister’s caution may have link to obsolete condition of most of the rented power plants. In fact powerful oligarchies have already taken over the power sector where there is no certainty of uninterrupted power supply.
But in our view it can’t be right time and the State Minister must reassure the nation that they should not be panicked in fear of any load-shedding.
