950803

KESC completes 80pc

rehabilitation of

transmission lines

KARACHI: KESC has completed 80 percent work of rehabilitation and expansion of its 132/220 K.V. transmission lines which had strengthened KESC network to a great extent and this year so far no major breakdown at transmission lines had been reported, a KESC spokesman said here on Thursday.

According to the spokesman, the work of rehabilitation/expansion of transmission lines, which was started in July 1994 at a cost of US$ 100 million under ADB's Fifth Power Sector Loan will be completed by July 1996.

Under the rehabilitation programme, out of total 18 transmission lines KESC had so far energized fifteen 132/220 K.V. transmission lines during the last one year.

Most recently 132 K.V. Valika-North Karachi Loop had been completed and temporarily energized under ADB contract. This circuit will be used to feed power to North Karachi Grid Station after the provision of bays at Valika Grid Station for which a separate contract had already been placed.

Energization of this line from Valika Grid Station and the completion of balance work at North Karachi, Grid Station will increase the flexibility of operation. Consumers of District Central will be largely benefited after completion of the entire scheme of this transmission line costing about Rs. four crore 37 lacs.

Similarly, 132 KV Korangi West to Korangi South transmission line whose construction was in progress, would be used to energize Korangi South Grid Station whose construction was also under progress.

After the energization of Korangi South Grid Station from Korangi West side for which necessary contract had already been placed the whole district East, especially Malir will be benefitted resulting in increase in operational flexibility. The total cost to be incurred on this line comes about to Rs.11 crore 97 lacs.

Meanwhile two major transmission lines between Korangi Thermal Power Station (KTPS) to Queen's Road which are at present 132 K.V. will be reinforced to 220K.V. work of rehabilitation of this circuit shall start from middle of this month.

The alternate feed to transformer load of these lines which will be shutdown from this month to December, 1995 will be made through newly commissioned Korangi South Loop.

Major part of the rehabilitation/expansion of the transmission lines has been completed except 132 K.V. Korangi Thermal Power Station to Queen's Road double circuit and 132 K.V. Korangi West to Queen's Road, which will be completed and energized by July, 1996.

Besides, work on 132 K.V. underground cable circuit will also start from September this year.

It may be mentioned here that KESC is carrying out a massive rehabilitation/expansion programme for overall improvement in its generation, transmission, distribution and customer services system with a record investment of Rs.38 billion under 5th and 6th ADB Power Sector Projects which will be completed by 1996 and 1998 respectively.

According to the Corporation's spokesman, with the completion of this system improvement programme, KESC hopes to become one of the best utility organizations in Third World countries and shall also be in a position to provide new connections within 24 hours under one window operation.-APP