KARACHI - Over the last few months, the KESC management has undertaken several initiatives to minimise loadshedding and effectively combat power crisis in the metropolis. These have been unveiled on Monday as part of a major new accountability and transparency drive, which KESC management termed as its Scorecard, under the leadership of its CEO, Naveed Ismail. These strategic initiatives range from obtaining commitments on multi-million dollar investments from new shareholders as well as the negotiation of a 180 MW plant deal with GE Jenbacher in recent weeks. Efforts are also underway to bridge the demand and supply gap in the city by commissioning new projects of 220 MWs, as well as inaugurating the 560 MWs Bin Qasim II Project. The KESC has also started commercial operations of a 50 MW rental power project with Aggreko. The engineers working with the company have successfully increased dependable capacity of the units after major overhauls of Bin Qasim and Korangi plants. This has resulted in 80 per cent reduction in plant trips during the last six months. On the distribution side, KESC has successfully commissioned three new 132 KV grid stations at Korangi South, PRL and Gulshan-e-Maymar, in line with its commitment to modernise transmission network, strengthen the power grid and ensure uniform power supply to consumers. Preventive maintenance management programmes and standard operating procedures systems have reduced tripping through a 24/7 network monitoring system. Five additional 132 KV grid stations and 98 feeders are also on schedule for commissioning this year. The KESC Management has also improved transmission and distribution which the decreased the losses by 6.5 per cent while four deputy COOs have been appointed to reorganise the entire distribution set-up into four integrated operating divisions. New power transformers at Korangi Town, RECP, Queens Road, Valika and Haroonabad grid stations have been commissioned. The autotransformer at KDA grid station has been tested and energised by 250 MVA. The utility also aims to revolutionize the power sector in the country with the introduction of automatic metering in 2009. CEO Naveed Ismail told The Nation that KESC was planning to implement a focused plan and make it successful. Given the depth of decay we have inherited, the challenges are substantial. However, with yet more hard work and full public support, the gains will become visible to the public and this utility will earn its rightful place as a company at the centre of a vibrant and prosperous Karachi, he said.