Power distribution companies have started serving notices on the textile industry, asking it to maintain current power load in coming months when gas load-shedding will start and in a worst case they may face power outages, The News has learnt.
In this regard, Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (FESCO) has sent notices to the textile industry operating in its jurisdiction while other distribution companies (DISCOs) including Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) are also preparing same notices.
According to the notice served by FESCO, the company has calculated average load consumption of textile units during last six months from April to September. It informed the textile units to maintain power load of their premises within last six months' average during the period of gas shortage from November 2008 to April 2009.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has already conveyed to the textile industry that a smooth gas supply could not be ensured during winter months.
FESCO has clearly mentioned that in case of excessive use of power load, electricity supply to textile units would be disconnected from grid stations without issuing any further notices.
FESCO region is the hub of weaving industry in the country while majority of spinning units are running in LESCO region. Power outages in the wake of unavailability of gas would increase losses of the textile industry.
On the other side, most of the textile value added industry is also operating in these two regions, which generates power by using gas as a fuel.
In the past when gas was not available to the textile industry, it used electricity supply from WAPDA system. However, this year due to power crisis smooth supply of electricity may be ensured to
other small and medium cottage industries, which only depend on WAPDA system.
If WAPDA does not disconnect power supply to the textile sector, it will be compelled to resort to cut in electricity supply to other small industries.
The federal government has promised to ensure smooth gas supply to the textile industry, which comes to around 200 million cubic feet per day but final decision has not been taken so far.
Power generation efficiency of textile units is 38 per cent, which is higher than WAPDA's 27 per cent. On the other hand, WAPDA also faces around 12 per cent line losses, which reduces net efficiency to 15 per cent.
Source: The News, Pakistan