ISLAMABAD:
A significant increase in dam releases in mid-April lifted hydropower generation, trimming but not ending load shedding across the country.
The Power Division said on Saturday that hydropower generation rose to 6,000 megawatts during the Friday evening peak hour, allowing authorities to limit load management despite a surge in electricity demand.
According to a spokesman, increased water releases from the Tarbela dam at night contributed to the higher hydel output. He said the total installed hydropower capacity stood at about 11,500 megawatts, adding that the improved generation also improved the stability of the national grid.
The spokesman further said that about 500 megawatts of electricity from the southern region was transferred to the central grid, including another 100 megawatts facilitated by improved hydel output.
Despite higher demand, electricity distribution companies maintained load management within one to two hours during peak periods, with outages not exceeding two hours due to the increase in hydropower generation.
He clarified that economic load management on high loss feeders was done as per the policy and had no connection with peak hour load management.
The spokesman added that power plants with a total capacity of 5,500 megawatts operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) were not currently producing electricity due to global supply constraints.
He said the availability of LNG, along with further increases in water discharges, would help eliminate power shortages during night hours.
