Pakistan is facing temporary additional load management during nighttime peak hours following a shortage of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG).
The Power Division said the unavailability of an RLNG cargo had reduced electricity generation by 3,600 megawatts.
The sudden generation shortfall has increased pressure on the power system during periods of peak nighttime demand.
Consequently, authorities have introduced temporary load management lasting between 1.5 and three hours each night.
RLNG Shortage Puts Pressure on Power Generation
According to the Power Division, the delayed RLNG cargo has affected electricity generation during the most demanding hours.
The shortage forced authorities to manage electricity supply temporarily to maintain balance between generation and demand.
Generation from Mangla also declined by around 195 megawatts, adding further pressure to the electricity system.
Meanwhile, power plants using furnace oil were also operated during peak hours to help meet electricity requirements.
The government said these measures would continue until fuel availability improves and the delayed RLNG cargo reaches the port.
Government Apologises Over Temporary Load Management
The Power Division apologised to consumers for the temporary nighttime load management caused by the supply constraints.
However, the government said there was no load management during daytime hours because of the RLNG-related shortfall.
Authorities have instead focused the additional measures on nighttime peak hours when electricity demand remains higher.
The ministry also urged consumers to reduce electricity consumption during peak nighttime hours.
According to the government, lower demand during these hours could help ease pressure on the power system.
Longer Outages Reported in Parts of Punjab
The latest electricity shortage has also increased pressure on supplies in Punjab.
Reports indicate longer periods of load-shedding in some areas, including Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.
However, the Power Division clarified that areas experiencing load management because of high distribution losses remain subject to their scheduled load-shedding plans.
Therefore, the additional nighttime measures linked to the RLNG shortage are separate from existing load management in high-loss areas.
Load Management Expected to Ease
The government said the temporary load management would be reduced once the delayed RLNG cargo arrives at the port.
Improved fuel supplies should subsequently help restore electricity generation and ease pressure during peak hours.
Until then, authorities are relying on available generation sources and temporary measures to manage the supply-demand gap.
The Power Division has also asked consumers to use electricity carefully during nighttime peak hours.
For consumers, the immediate impact remains concentrated around nighttime demand, while daytime electricity supply remains unaffected by this specific measure.
