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KESC accused of destroying businesses

KARACHI: Industrialists and traders have alleged that Karachi Elec-tric Supply Company (KESC) is deliberately destroying businesses by carrying out load shedding in residential, commercial and in-dustrial areas just to save the cost of furnace oil.

They said that on the pretext that Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has curtailed gas supply, resulting in shortfall in power ge-nerating and thereby increasing load shedding duration in the city, it has no vision what impact it has on industrial and commercial sectors.

They said that all KESC power generating untis are capable to op-erate on both gas and oil. This is also well judged that during holi-days as well as strikes when majority of bulk consumers, like in-dustries and commercial areas remain closed, the KESC still keeps on carrying on load shedding in the city. KESC is no more a public utility company, rather it has become a public 'liability company', they alleged.

Chairman of Federal 'B' Area Association of Trade and Industry, Mohammad Irfan, said that KESC has announced to carry out 4 hours' load shedding in industrial areas, which will cripple indus-trial activities. He said that besides power load shedding by KESC, SSGC has also announced to reduce gas supply from October 27 to November 4, 2010 which also would have adverse impact on in-dustrial manufacturing.

He said that SSGC and KESC must hold consultative meeting with its consumers before taking any major decision such as going for load shedding in industrial and commercial areas. He said it was a general practice all over the world that utility services providers hold consultative meetings with stakeholders before taking any major decisions. In Pakistan, it is reversed, and utility companies take decisions in isolation and do not bother about their consum-ers.

Chairman of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Johar Ali Qandhari, said that SSGC had hinted that gas load shading may be prolonged as compared to its announced gas load shedding from October 27 to November 4, 2010. He said that SSGC has requested industrialists to reduce their gas consumption by 20 percent. However, there is no announcement of power load shed-ding in the industrial area but it is obvious that KESC will carry out power load shedding due to curtailment of gas supply to power units.

About losses to industries, he said that total daily production in this industrial estate is around Rs 2.5 billion and cut of power and gas will have serious impact on production. He said industries have been affected by a host of factors in the current state.

Arif Khan, a Jodia Bazaar trader, said that there is no justification to carry out power load shedding when KESC has enough power generating capacity and its generators can operate on alternative fuel. He lashed out at KESC and held the utility responsible for de-stroying small businesses in the city.

A leather expert said that leather is a continuous process industry. Load shedding and power failures break down the process, due to which hides are destroyed and various quality issues arise. Due to load shedding, finished leather, valuing $2.0, comes down to 0.5 cents.

He demanded preferred supply of electricity to the exporting in-dustries so as to enable the exporting industry to fulfil its orders and to save its precious raw material from going waste. He also criticised gas load shedding in industrial areas.