Flash floods caused over 10 bln loss to PEPCO

Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has suffered a loss of over Rs 10 billion to its installations so far across the country due devastated floods. Sources told this agency here that four of the total nine power distribution companies including Peshawar Electric Company (PESCO) Multan Electric Supply Company (MEPCO), Quetta Electric Supply Company) (QESCO) and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) were suffered severely by devastating floods. They said three hydel generation stations- Jigran (30 MW), Malakand (80 MW) and Chashma (160 MW) suffered losses and had gone out of operation. The floods also hit three thermal power plants including Pak-Gen (350 MW), ASE Lalpir (350 MW) and KAPCO (Kot Addu). The KAPCO has started partial generation of 600 MW against its capacity of 1386 MW. Both the Thermal plants would take two weeks to become operational once water level receded. The sources said that the floods swept away Madian and Shangla grid station in Swat while the third big Khawazakhela grid station was still inaccessible. PEPCO is utilizing all its resources and making efforts for early repair and restoration of power installations including grids, transformers, transmission lines and other infrastructure soon after receding of floodwater, they added. All other distribution companies have been directed to put their material and equipment reserves at the disposal of the four affected distribution companies to restore the power system, they said. It is worth mentioning here that Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also assured that it would fully assist repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure of power system damaged due to flood in the country. ADB has already announced 2 billion dollars emergency grant to help repair massive damage to infrastructure caused by the countrys recent floods. The ADB will work with Pakistani power sector officials to asses the scale of the damage at the earliest.

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