What was the cause of the electricity crisis in Pakistan?

Answer 1

· The primary triggers although not the long-term cause of the power cuts was a dry December and low water level in dams. The low rainfall reduced the water in the dams, reducing the total power output from all major hydro electric dams. Whereas low water level in rivers is due to violations of Indus water treaty by India.

· Another short term factor was that transmission towers and natural gas supply infrastructure have been blown up by the terrorists particularly in Baluchistan.

· The rising price of oil products is also a major cause of power disruption in Pakistan where more than 60 percent of electricity is generated from furnace oil. WAPDA and other independent power producers (ipps) were having problems because they were unable to pay for oil from oil marketing companies.

· Transmission losses (i.e. power theft) are30 to38%, in which 10% is through unavoidable line losses in the distribution system. So, even if the power distribution companies are able to completely remove the theft during transmission (the popular "KUNDA" system), 25 percent electricity could be saved and the crisis will end.

· A long term cause of the existing power breakdown is that government regulated tariffs on retail electricity prices kept revenues too low to make it worthwhile for utilities to invest in electricity generation.

· Miss management and corruption in Public sector also this situation has been worsen by inability of two major electricity generators and dispatchers i.e. WAPDA and Kesc.