Pakistan's national power grid fails, cities plunges into darkness

(prHWY.com) February 27, 2013 - Navi Mumbai, India -- Karachi: Following a major breakdown in the national power grid of Pakistan, cities including the capital, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar plunged into darkness. According to officials, the blackout began at about 11.30 pm after a privately run 1,200 MW thermal power plant in south-western Balochistan province developed a fault and stopped generating electricity.

"The HUBCO (Hub Power Company) plant developed a fault and the load was transferred to the Mangla and Tarbela hydel projects but they tripped. After that, several smaller powerhouses tripped," Javed Parvez, CEO of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, explained to the media.

However, the government is giving special impetus to reinstall the power crunch caused due to the grid failure. According to Javed, the Mangla and Tarbela power projects had resumed generating electricity and efforts were being made to restore the supply of power to cities in phases. "Power had been restored in parts of a few cities, including Islamabad and the Prime Minister is monitoring efforts to restore power supply," he added. However, Parvez declined to say how long it would take to bring the entire national grid back on line.

According to media report almost 80% of the country was without power and more than 30 grid stations had tripped in the country's largest city of Karachi,. In Balochistan, at least 18 districts were affected by the blackout.

EPC News Bureau

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