HAMID WALEED

LAHORE: Managing Director of National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) Dr Fiaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that about 1800 MVA of 500/220 kV and 3000 MVA capacities of 220/132 kV are being added in the NTDC system before summer 2017. "In summer 2016, system constraints were identified in the NTDC and DISCOs by exercising no load shedding during peak hours," he added.

He said the transmission interconnection for all new power generation projects, renewable, including solar and wind, coal and LNG are being executed and will be completed well before respective commercial operation dates.

NTDC is building generation interconnections as well as reinforcing its transmission system to reliably transmit additional power to load centres throughout the country. The additions will be adequate to prevent or significantly curtail load shedding for all provinces, he added.

He said the third 500 kV circuit will be completed before CODs of generation projects, being installed in southern parts of the country.

MD NTDC said the transmission line for evacuation of power from 1320 MW Hub Coal power plant will be ready in Dec 2018. Rarely, generation or load shed is due to bulk transmission configuration changes due to faults, as the NTDC interconnection network is mostly capable of handling N-1 contingencies. NTDC is implementing an advanced asset management system to maintain its transmission assets and increase their reliability. Transmission losses in NTDC are already at par with international standard, which will be further reduced after implementation of large number of reinforcement projects.

Land purchased and sufficient preliminary work has been completed for converter stations and construction work is expected to start as soon as NEPRA approves its tariff.

While giving reason of delay in completion of 220 kV Uch - Sibbi transmission line, he said progress was suffering due to law and order problems and security issues. However, he added, the NTDC has arranged FC security for supervisory staff and contractor crews.

He said a contract with FC was signed on 14 Oct 2015 and FC was deployed at site on 1st Jan 2016. He expressed the hope that the delay would be recovered and it is expected that transmission line will be completed and energized before 31 March 2017.