20000205

National grid trips

causing widespread

power breakdown

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The city faced a major power disruption Friday noon when the national grid tripped leading to the closure of key power stations of KESC.

Power supply remained disconnected for four to five hours in various parts of the metropolis.

According to the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), the national grid went out of order around 12:30 p.m. that resulted in the tripping of Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station due to abrupt drop in the power frequency. Five units, of the total six, of Bin Qasim Station suffered badly, which were supplying about 800 mw power to the KESC system, a spokesman said.

Nevertheless, KESC managed to get its Korangi Power Station isolated so as to ensure partial power supply to the city, he said. Besides, the power supply from Site Gas Turbine, and Independent Power Projects (IPPs) also remained intact.

The engineers and staff of the KESC could bring back normalcy at around 5:00 p.m., he said after Bin Qasim units 6;4;3 and 2 became operative and were put on line with the volume of 500 mw.