NTDC warns of acute shortage of RFO at thermal power plants

ISLAMABAD: The densely populated cities of Lahore and Faisalabad may witness prolonged load shedding in the coming days as the stock of residual fuel oil (FRO) of thermal Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has depleted to a critical level.

In a letter to the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) CEO, the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) warned that the stocks of thermal IPPs’ RFO had depleted to a critical level and were sufficient only for a few days. “If IPPs fail to maintain 15 days’ stocks on an urgent basis, then the load management of 150MW to 200MW could be carried in Lahore and Faisalabad areas.”

The company asked the CCPA to direct all IPPs to maintain the required RFO stocks on an urgent basis, otherwise, people of said areas would have to face three to four hours power load shedding in the coming days.  

This is not the first time the NTDC has intimated the CPPA regarding the RFO situation. As per the NTDC’s letter, “Despite repeated instructions from this office to keep fuel inventory as per respective PPA provisions, no improvement has been observed.”