PAKISTAN

WATER AND POWER DEVELOPMENT

AUTHORITY

ANALYSIS OF RECENT
BLACKOUTS IN PAKISTAN
CAUSED & REMEDIAL
MEASURES
A Syndicate Report Presented To

WAPDA Administrative Staff College, Islamabad

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the

Junior Management Course

By

Group-VIII

115TH JUNIOR MANAGEMENT COURSE

(JUL 27, 2015 TO SEP 22, 2015)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are greatly thankful to Almighty Allah, The most merciful, Who gave us the
courage and strength to complete this syndicate research work successfully.
We are also greatly thankful to our respected Course Director Mr. Ali Anwer
Buriro and Dy. Course Director Mr. Imran Uddin for their kind guidance and
encouragement throughout the whole activities of Junior Management Course in
soft and well-behaved manner.
In the end we would like to thank our families for their endurance, support, love
and help during the progression of this course. They kept patience during our
absence, supported and fulfilled our social duties in society.

Group-VIII
th
115 Junior Management Course
 DEDICATION
Dedicated to our loving families; especially to our parents; whose love,
affection and persistent efforts to keep us going; are the very reasons of our
success today.

Group-VIII
th
115 Junior Management Course
 Executive Summary
Presently, Pakistan is facing the acute shortage of Electricity. In addition to this
problem, our National Grid suffered major blackouts due to power system
collapses. Due to such events our country had to bear billion of rupees loss.
In this report we briefly discussed the major power system collapses, chronicle
events, analysis and recommended the remedial measures to avoid such events
in future. There are mainly two strategies to overcome such situation, firstly
short term measures and secondly long term measures. In short term scenario,
black outs are avoided by utilization of intelligent protection schemes. Long
term planning measures are introduced to plan a power system in a reliable and
stable manner by utilizing state of the art power transmission system equipment
like FACTS devices.
This report can be helpful for all those who are keenly interested for carrying
out advanced research in improvement of power system stability. This report
will also serve the reader with ample amount of information about how the
restoration of national grid is carried out in case of total and partial blackouts.
 List of Contents
1 Abstract.................................................................................................................................... 2
2 Power System .......................................................................................................................... 3
3 History of Power Sector in Pakistan ........................................................................................ 4
4 Existing Power Structure in Pakistan ...................................................................................... 5
5 Transmission Network............................................................................................................. 7
6 Transmission Network of Pakistan .......................................................................................... 8
7 Introduction to Frequency Control ........................................................................................ 10
7.1 Changing Load ............................................................................................................... 10
7.2 Need for Frequency Control ........................................................................................... 11
8 Critical Elements in the Existing Transmission System ........................................................ 12
9 History of Blackouts in Pakistan ........................................................................................... 13
10 Recent Blackouts in Pakistan ............................................................................................. 15
10.1 System Disturbance of 12-12-2014 ................................................................................ 15
10.2 System Disturbance of 21-12-2014 ................................................................................ 19
10.3 System Disturbance of 08-01-2015 ................................................................................ 21
10.4 System Disturbance of 24-01-2015 ................................................................................ 23
11 Remedial Measures to Avoid Such Events in Future ........................................................ 27
11.1 Cross Trip Scheme at 500kV Guddu Grid Station ......................................................... 27
11.2 Defective Shunt Reactors at 500 kV Guddu, Dadu and Jamshoro Grid Stations .......... 27
11.3 Poor Maintenance of 500 kV Transmission Lines in Guddu-Jamshoro-Dadu Area...... 28
11.4 Wiring Indications / Cross-Trip Scheme Problems at Guddu G/S and TPS Guddu ...... 28
11.5 Installation of Thermal Over Load Protection on ATB-1 and ATB-2: .......................... 29
11.6 Implementation of under frequency relays in DISCO’s................................................. 29
11.7 Cross Trip Schemes ........................................................................................................ 30
11.8 Under Voltage Scheme................................................................................................... 31
11.9 Sequence Event Recorder (SER) & Fault Recorder (FR) .............................................. 31
12 Conclusion & Recommendations ...................................................................................... 32
13 References .......................................................................................................................... 33
 

1 
 
1 Abstract

Currently Pakistan is suffering from acute shortage of power. Due to immaculate

gap between demand and generation the stability of power system has become a
challenging task for the utility. Pakistan has an interconnected Primary
Transmission system. Its primary transmission system stretches all the way from
Peshawar (500kV Shiekh Muhammadi Grid Station) to Karachi (500kV Hub
Power Plant). Furthermore all the Hydro Generation is concentrated in the north,
all thermal generation in the south and Load center is located in the center of the
country. This gives this power system a unique voltage profile. System voltages in
the north are almost within permissible limit, whereas in center there is severe
voltage sag as we go towards the south voltages begins to shoot up. Due to this
uneven distribution of load and generation stability of the system has been
compromised four times in the last six months. This report focuses on the analysis
of these recent disturbances and evaluates the remedial measures to avoid such
events in the future.

2 
 
2 Power System

An electric power system is a network of electrical components used to supply,

transmit and use electric power. An example of an electric power system is the
network that supplies a region's homes and industry with power - for sizable
regions, this power system is known as the grid and can be broadly divided into the
generators that supply the power, the transmission system that carries the
power from the generating stations to the load centers and the distribution
system that feeds the power to nearby homes and industries. Smaller power
systems are also found in industry, hospitals, commercial buildings and homes.
The majority of these systems rely upon three-phase AC power - the standard for
large-scale power transmission and distribution systems across the modern world.

Fig1.1 Electrical Power System 

3 
 
3 History of Power Sector in Pakistan

On independence in 1947, Pakistan inherited a total 60MW of power generation

capability with a 31.5 million population, yielding 4.5 units per capita consumption
[1] [2]. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) in 1952 took control of the Karachi
Electric Supply Company (KESC) [3].

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) was established in 1958 as a

semi-autonomous body to coordinate and give a unified direction to the
development of schemes in power and water sectors, which were previously done
by the respective electricity and irrigation department of the provinces [4]. By
1964-65, the power generation capability of the whole country rose to 636 MW
[5]. At the time of establishment of WAPDA, the number of electrified villages in
the country was 609 which rose to 1882 villages by the year 1965 [1].
Industrialization started and living standards of people in the country improved.
The task of providing power to meet pace of rapid industrialization, power
development picked up speed and the generating capability rose from 636 MW to
7000 MW in 1990-91 with installation of a number of thermal and hydro power
units [1] [5].

The demand exceeded supply capability by about 15-25% in the early 1990s,
requiring about 1,500 to 2,000 MW of load shedding during peak hours. There was
a weak link between the electricity price and demand, resulting in high demand.
While on the supply side, the capacity shortage was the inability of the public
budget to meet the high investment required by the power sector for development
of projects. The GOP, in line with its strategic plan of 1992 decided restructuring
the entire power sector in the country [6] [7].

4 
 
In order to eliminate power shortage in minimum time, an Energy Task Force in
1993 was constituted by GOP to devise a comprehensive policy to revive the
energy sector [8]. On the recommendations of the Energy Task Force, the GOP in
March 1994 announced a "Package of Incentives for Private Sector Power
Generation Projects and Policy Framework" to introduce a large scale private
sector investment in power development [8] [9].

On December 16, 1997, issue of the Gazette of Pakistan proclaimed the enactment
of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power
Act, 1997, which had be-come effective on 13 December 1997, known as NEPRA
act [10]. Thus National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has been
created to regulate the electric power sector of Pakistan, introduce sound
commercial principals and ensure transparency in the power sector.

4 Existing Power Structure in Pakistan

The WAPDA act was amended in December 1998, which allowed the creation of
Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), and unbundling of WAPDA’s Power
Wing into: eight distribution companies (formed from existing area boards);
four generating companies (comprising 11 of WAPDA’s thermal generating
plants); and National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) [2].
More recently out of eight distribution companies Hyderabad electric supply
company (HESCO) is divided to from two companies Sukkur Electric Power
Company (SEPCO) and HESCO, while PESCO is under process of bifurcation to
form Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO).

The Government of Pakistan privatized Karachi Electric supply Company (KESC)

in November 2005 [3]. At present, KESC and NTDCL operate their own networks

5 
 
and are interconnected through 220 KV double circuit transmission lines and can
supply power to each other.

Now Pakistan's power system is divided into three main categories which includes
power generation, WAPDA (Hydro generation), GENCO’s (Thermal generation),
and IPP’s (Independent Power Producers consisting of thermal and nuclear
generation). Transmission is controlled by NTDCL & KESC, whereas distribution
is controlled by power distribution companies i.e. 10 DISCO’s and KESC.
Distribution companies (DISCOs) and KESC are supplied with electricity to meet
their demand by two transmissions companies (NTDCL and KESC).

Fig-1.2 Existing Structure of Power Sector

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 Fig-1.3 Existing Electric Power Generation Sources in Pakistan
 

5 Transmission Network

Electric power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from

generating power plants to electrical substations located near load centers. [11]
Electrical power is generated at different generating stations. These generating
stations are not necessarily situated at the load center. During construction of
generating station, numbers of factors are considered from economical point of
view. These all factors may not be easily available at load center; hence generating
stations are not normally situated very nearer to load center. Load center is the
place where maximum power is consumed. Hence there must be some means by
which the generated power must be transmitted to the load center. Electrical
transmission lines are the means of transmitting power from generating station to
different load centers [11]. To serves this power components such as transmission
lines, cables, circuit breakers, switches and transformers are used. Transmission
lines, when interconnected with each other through these components, become
transmission networks.

7 
 
6 Transmission Network of Pakistan

National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDCL) Limited is the major

transmission network operator in Pakistan and was incorporated on 6th November,
1998 and commenced commercial operation on 24th December, 1998. It was
organized to take over all the properties, rights and assets obligations and liabilities
of 220 KV and 500KV Grid Stations and Transmission Lines/Network owned by
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) [13].

NTDC operates and maintains thirteen 500 KV and thirty six 220 KV Grid
Stations, over 5000 km of 500 KV transmission line and 7500 km of 220 KV
transmissions line in Pakistan. Transmission system of Pakistan is one of the few
largest synchronized systems in the world, expanding from Karachi in South to
Peshawar in north.

Highest operating voltage in the country for transmission system is 500 kV.
NTDCL operates and maintains primary transmission system of Pakistan at 500 kV
and 220 kV. While the secondary transmission system operated at 132 kV and 66
kV is owned and maintained by different distribution companies in the country.
Secondary transmission system consists of more than 900 132 kV grid stations and
24000 km of transmission lines.

K electric previously known as KESC is second transmission company in the

country operating only in the largest metropolis of the country i.e. Karachi. K-
Electric’s transmission system comprises a total of 1249 km of 220 KV, 132 KV
and 66 KV lines with 62 grid stations [14]. K electric is connected to NTDCL
transmission network via four 220 kV transmission lines.

8 
 
 Fig-1.4 Existing Transmission in Pakistan

9 
 
7 Introduction to Frequency Control
7.1 Changing Load

Loads within the power system are constantly changing. Each time a residential
customer starts an electric clothes dryer or an industrial customer ignites a furnace,
the power system load changes. This is why the task of matching generation to
load is difficult, the target is always moving. An exact match between generation
and load is only achieved for a short period of time. Loads change constantly,
always creating another imbalance between the generation supply and the system
load.

Fig-1.5 Daily Load Curve (Dated: 09-06-2015)

10 
 
7.2 Need for Frequency Control

In the early days of power systems, very basic control systems were used to match
generation to load. A plant operator may have used a simple hand adjusted dial
control to increase or decrease generator output until the output matched the load.
As power systems have grown and customer expectations of power system
performance have increased, the equipment used to match generation to load has
also grown in complexity. Complex control systems have been developed to
achieve the desired match between generation and load.

The major consequence of over or under generation is the effect on system

frequency. When the generation supply within an isolated power system or an
Interconnection exactly matches the system load the frequency can be exactly 50
HZ. When not enough generation is supplied the frequency decreases to a value
less than 50 HZ. When too much generation is supplied the frequency increases
above 50 HZ. Figure 4-3 illustrates the need to achieve a balance between the
power consumed (load, exports, losses) and the power supplied (generation &
imports). Within an Interconnection, the individual power systems assist each other
to maintain frequency within a narrow band about the nominal frequency of 50
HZ.

Fig-1.6 Load Frequency Control Analogy

11 
 
8 Critical Elements in the Existing Transmission System
Pakistan Transmission System is one of the largest interconnected power systems
of the world. One of the major problem associated with interconnected system is
that during loaded conditions tripping of any equipment will cause the load to shift
on the remaining equipment. Such situation sometimes leads to cascaded tripping.
One of the very important node in the Pakistan’s Transmission System is
500/220kV Guddu Grid Station. This Grid Station interconnects three parts of the
country. Details are as under:

 Northern Region (Peshawar to Guddu)

 Sourthern Region (Guddu to Karachi)
 Baluchistan Region (Including regions of Upper Sindh)

Fig-1.7 Problem in Existing Transmission in Pakistan

12 
 
All the three regions can be operated separately provided that load generation
balance for each region can be achieved. Unfortunately in Pakistan Generation is
concentrated in the North and South of the country whereas load center is in the
center of the country.

Fig-1.8 Power Flow in Pakistan Transmission Network

9 History of Blackouts in Pakistan

Due to uneven distribution of load & generation throughout the country, Power
system operation and control becomes very difficult. Tripping of any critical
500/220kV Transmission line can lead to major system disturbance. Several major
disturbances have occurred the past as shown in table.

13 
 
 Table-1.1 Major Breakdown in Pakistan Since 2000
SR. DATE & TYPE REASON RESTORATION
NO. TIME TIME
1 24-01-2015 Major Tripping of 220kV Uch-I - Sibbi cct # 2 From Peshawar to
at due to sabotage activity. Auto Karachi at 08:10Hrs
23:53Hrs Transformers at Guddu tripped on (Duration 8Hrs and
overloading causing low frequency 17mnts)

2 08-01-2015 Partial Tripping at Guddu causing splitting of From Peshawar to

at Northern and Southern part due to heavy fog in Guddu at 15:00Hrs
05:15Hrs Guddu area. (Duration 9Hrs and
Northern part (Guddu to Peshawar) went under 45Mnts)
dark due to low frequency

3 21-12-2014 Partial 500kV Guddu - Dadu cct # 1 & 2 went From Dadu to
at under fault due to heavy fog in Guddu & Karachi at
03:33Hrs Dadu area. Souther part (Dadu - Hub - 14:20Hrs
Kelectric) went under due to low (Duration 10Hrs
frequency. 47Mnts)
4 12-12-2014 Partial Tripping of Auto Transformers at Guddu due From Peshawar to
at to overloading caused splitting of Northern and Guddu at 20:34
12:50 Hrs Southern part. (Duration 7Hrs and
Northarn part (Guddu to Peshawar) went under 44Mnts)
dark due to low frequency

5 24-02-2013 Major Sudden generation rejection from Ghazi From Peshawar to

at Barotha Plant (870MW) causing low Karachi at 08:45
23:26 Hrs frequency (Duration 9Hrs and
19Mnts)

6 24-09-2006 Major 500kV Barotha - Lahore cct was under From Peshawar to
at approved shut down Karachi at 00:05Hrs
13:45Hrs 500kV Barotha - Gatti cct II tripped on 3-phase (Duration 10Hrs and
fault 500kV Barotha - Gatti cct I tripped on 20Mnts)
overloading
Rawat 500/220kV Autos tripped on Over
loading, resulting in Low Frequency in
Southern part and High Frequency in Northern
Part
7 31-08-2001 Major Due to Storm 500kV Tarbela - Rewat cct From Peshawar to
at tripped. As a result 500kV Tarbela - Gatti ccts Karachi at 13:28Hrs
00:54 Hrs # 1 & 2 and 500/220kV Autos at Tarbela (Duration 12Hrs and
tripped on overloading resulting in total system 34mnts)
collapse.

14 
 
 8 04-02-2000 Partial 500kV Guddu - Multan cct # 3 tripped during From Peshawar to
at rain due to damage of its surge arrestor. Heavy Guddu at 18:44Hrs
12:26Hrs jerk observed, resulting in cascaded tripping (Duration 6Hrs
which caused system splitting in Northern & 18Mnts)
Southern part. Northern part (Guddu to
Peshawar) went under dark due to low
frequency.

10 Recent Blackouts in Pakistan

10.1 System Disturbance of 12-12-2014

Event

On 12-12-2014 at 12:50Hrs major disturbance occurred on north power system due

to following trippings at Guddu.

 500/220kV (450MVA) T/F T-1 & T-2 at 500kV Guddu grid station
transferring 400MW each from 220kV Guddu power station to 500kV
Guddu grid station tripped on over current. (500/220kV T/F T-3 was under
shutdown for annual maintenance and protection testing)

 500kV Guddu – Guddu747 cct

 500kV Guddu – M/Garh cct

 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 2

As a result of these trippings, North system from Muzaffargarh to Peshawar went

under dark. Power system from Guddu to Karachi remained intact where following
two Islands were created;

15 
 
 i. 500kV Dadu – Jamshoro – Hubco – NKI – K-electric. (South
Island)
ii. 220kV Guddu – Shikarpur – UCH2 – UCH1 – Sibbi –
Quetta.(Guddu- Baluchistan Island)

Sind and Baluchistan supplies remained normal.

NPCC took immediate measures to save the south system and Guddu-
Baluchistan Island from further damage by maintaining voltage and
frequency of these systems in permissible limits.

 Following events were later learnt to have occurred at Guddu power plants
without coordination of Guddu control rooms with NPCC control room,
which contributed to overloading of 500/220kV Auto Transformers at
500kV Guddu grid station.

TPS Guddu (Old Guddu)

i. At 11:44Hrs GT-7 synched (Old Guddu) 220kV Power station

ii. At 12:10 Hrs GT-8 synched (Old Guddu) 220kV Power station
iii. At 12:37 Hrs GT-10 synched (Old Guddu) 220kV Power station

Guddu747

i. At 12:02Hrs GT-16 de-synched (Guddu747) 500kV

ii. At 12:10Hrs GT-15 de-synched (Guddu747) 500kV
iii. At 12:50Hrs GT-14 tripped with system disturbance. (Guddu747) 500kV

16 
 
Note: Since Guddu 747 is located on 500kV system, activities at Guddu 747 did
not have impact on the system or 500/220kV Auto Transformers at Guddu.
Analysis

After installation of a number of gas based power plants in Guddu & Baluchistan
area, gas generation is concentrated in this area with the following capacities:

220kV Side
TPS Guddu 400MW
UCH-I 550MW
UCH-II 395MW
Engro 213MW
Foundation 180MW
Liberty Power 200MW
HCPC 129MW
Total 2067MW
500kV Side
Guddu 747 700MW
Total 2767MW

However this area has inadequate transmission capacities for UCH-I & UCH-II
along with 500/220kV auto transformer constraints at Guddu. UCH II (395MW)
commissioned on 04th April 2014, has further increased the transmission and
transformer constraints. (NTDC had made interim arrangement to use the UCH-II
generation without N-I contingency)

17 
 
Before commissioning of UCH-II power plant NPCC highlighted the dispersal
problems of UCH-II including non availability of N-I contingency on 220kV
transmission lines and 500/220kV auto transformers at Guddu. On the other hand
cheap gas generation has to be used in the prevailing situation of generation
shortfall, fuel shortage, high prices of FO/HSD generation, serious audit and other
observations on use of expensive generation.

It is worth noting that by operating UCH-II power plant (@ EPP of Rs.3.9918 per
KWH) a saving of Rs. 51.0 billion has been made which would have been
otherwise spent on generating same amount of energy from most expensive
RFO/HSD based power plants.

The generation of above stated plants after local consumption of average 300MW
in SEPCO & 400MW in QESCO is transferred from 220kV system to 500kV main
system through 500/220kV Auto Transformers of Guddu, 500kV grid station.

NPCC closely monitors loading of 500/220kV auto transformers at Guddu and

keeps them in safe limit. Any addition of generation or synchronization of a unit or
any reduction in local power consumption increases the loading of auto
transformers and NPCC accordingly reduces the generation to keep the
transformers in safe limit.

On 12-12-2014 before the happening, NPCC reduced the generation of UCH-II

power plant to keep the loading of 500/220kV auto transformers in safe limit.
However synchronization of unit No. 7, 8 and 10 by TPS old Guddu without
coordination of Guddu old control room with NPCC control room resulted in
overloading of 500/220kV transformers and both transformers tripped on over

18 
 
current, resulting in generation shortfall of 1100MW in the North system causing
its frequency to depress down to 47.7Hz (which did not recover by under
frequency protection installed on 11kV feeders in DISCOs) resulting in cascaded
trippings in north system.

Tripping of North system by frequency depression indicates blocking of under

frequency relays, although their healthiness was confirmed by DISCOs in their
earlier correspondence with NPCC.

10.2 System Disturbance of 21-12-2014

Event

On 21-12-2014 at 03:33Hrs disturbance occurred in South due to heavy fog in

Guddu and Dadu area resulting in following tripping

 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 2 tripped from Guddu end and auto reclosed
from Dadu end at 03:33Hrs
- Guddu end Indication: Distance Protection, R, Y, B – Phases
- Dadu end Indication: Distance Protection, Y, B, - Phases
NPCC instructed Guddu and Dadu staff to take the indications and reset the
relays for restoration. Meanwhile 2nd 500kV line Guddu – Dadu cct # 1
tripped as under:

 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 1 tripped from both ends at 03:50Hrs

- Guddu end Indication: Distance Protection, R, Y, B – Phases
- Dadu end Indication: Distance Protection, R, Y, B, - Phases
At the time of tripping about 300MW power was flowing from Guddu towards
Dadu. Voltages in South were on higher side.

19 
 
With this tripping South system consisting of (Dadu – Jamshoro – NKI – Hubco –
K-Electric) went under dark. Parameters of North system were controlled to save it
from any damage.

Analysis

Heavy fog in Guddu – Dadu area caused the flashover of disc insulators and
tripping of 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 2. While the indications were being
collected by grid station staff and relays were being reset, the other 500kV circuit
(500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 1) also tripped and south system consisting of Dadu –
Jamshoro – NKI – K-Electric could not survive in isolation, and tripped due to fall
of its frequency.

Due to lean demand period the system voltages were on higher side. NPCC
depressed the voltages from all the generation resources (despite non availability of
three shunt reactor at Dadu). However due to dense fog both 500kV links between
Guddu and Dadu tripped one by one on three phase fault.

During tripping, the 500kV Circuit Breakers (B3Q1 & B3Q3) of Guddu – Dadu cct
# 1 at Dadu end also got damaged which could be the possible cause of tripping of
this line which isolated the South system from North. The south system which was
drawing 300MW from Guddu, got disturbed due to depression of its frequency.

Tripping of South system by frequency depression also indicates blocking of under

frequency relays in K-Electric.

20 
 
10.3 System Disturbance of 08-01-2015
Event

On 08-01-2015 at 05:15Hrs North system got disturbed due to following trippings

caused by heavy fog in Guddu, Dadu, Sukkur and Shikarpur area.

 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct # 2 tripped from both ends at 04:08Hrs

- Guddu end Indication: R, Y, B,- Phase Short Circuit
- Dadu end Indication: Distance Protection: R, N - Phases

Hubco was immediately instructed to decrease its generation to minimize load on

the other 500kV Dadu – Guddu line (cct # 1) which was now single link available
between North and South. Closing try was not given to 500kV Guddu – Dadu cct #
2 due to persisting dense fog in the area.

 500kV Guddu – Guddu747 cct tripped from Guddu end only at 04:12Hrs
- Guddu end Indication: R, Y, B,- Phase Short Circuit

Guddu747 kept on feeding 630MW to the system through 500kV Guddu 747 –
Multan Transmission line. The system parameters were kept under observation.

A number of trippings on 132/11kV system in SEPCO area also occurred due to

heavy fog resulting in excessive load rejection.

Meanwhile at 05:15Hrs (450MVA) T/F T-1, T-2 & T-3 at 500kV Guddu grid
station along with 500kV Guddu – D.G Khan – Multan circuit at Guddu tripped as
under:-

 500/220kV T/F T-1 tripped from LV side at 05:15Hrs

- Indications: PT Supply Failure

21 
 
 500/220kV T/F T-2 tripped from HV side at 05:15Hrs
- Indications: Neutral Ground, Over Current

 500/220kV T/F T-3 tripped from HV side at 05:15Hrs

- Indications: Neutral Ground, Over Current

 500kV Guddu – D.G. Khan – Multan cct tripped from Guddu end only at
05:15Hrs
- Guddu end Indication: Over Voltage

 500kV Guduu747 – Multan line tripped at 05:15Hrs along with tripping of

Guddu 747 complex (640MW)

As a result of these trippings North system (Guddu – Peshawar) went under dark
due to severe frequency depression caused by a short fall of 700MW. In southern
part following two Islands were created and kept on feeding the Sindh and
Baluchistan areas.

 500kV Dadu – Jamshoro – Hubco – NKI – K-electric. (South Island)

 Shikarpur – UCH2 – UCH1 – Sibbi – Quetta.(Guddu- Baluchistan
Island)

NPCC took immediate measures to save the south island and Guddu-Baluchistan
Island from further tripping by maintaining voltage and frequency of these
systems/islands in permissible limits and continuous monitoring of the parameters.

22 
 
Analysis

Distribution System of SEPCO was disturbed with series of trippings on 132/11kV

level due to heavy fog in the area. Trippings in SEPCO & QESCO areas were
recorded which initiated severe jerks on the main network also.

System voltages were reduced by from all power plants (Non availability of three
shunt reactors at 500kV Dadu generally enhance the voltage problem).

Meanwhile at 05:12Hrs when voltages were still being depressed by NPCC

through different resources the 500/220 kV auto transformer T-1 ay Guddu tripped
on PT Supply failure and 500/220kV Auto Transformer T-2 & T-3 tripped by
operation of neutral over current relay. At the same time 500kV Guddu – Multan -
DG Khan cct tripped on over voltage. As a result of simultaneous tripping of
transformers and 500kV transmission lines, the North system got isolated from the
South system causing low frequency in the North. Several 132kV feeders were
opened by NPCC in emergency to save the North system but frequency did not
recover and North system got disturbed due to generation shortfall of 700MW and
cascaded trippings.

During this tripping lightening arrestor of auto transformer T-1 (Guddu) at 500kV
side also damaged which could also be the possible cause of simultaneous
trippings at 500kV Guddu Grid Station.

10.4 System Disturbance of 24-01-2015

Event

On 24-01-2015 at 23:53Hrs major disturbance occurred on north with the

following trippings:-

23 
 
  220kV UCH1 – Sibbi cct # 2 tripped at 23:53Hrs due to bomb blast on
three towers.

The affected line (220kV UCH I – Sibbi cct # 2) was supplying 160MW to
Baluchistan. (Two lines 220kV UCH-I – Sibbi cct # 1 and 220kV Guddu – Sibbi
cct were already out due to previous bomb blast on 13-01-2015)

At the time of tripping 500/220kV T/F T-1, T-2 & T-3 at 500kV Guddu grid
station were transferring 338MW each from 220kV side to 500kV main system.

Due to outage of 220 KV UCH- Sibbi cct # 02, the power flow of 160MW was
suddenly diverted from Baluchistan side to the three 500/220kV auto T/F T-1, T-2
and T-3 at Guddu and load on each auto transformer became 392MW. These
transformers tripped as under:

 With this sudden happening 500/220kV auto T/F T-1 at Guddu tripped from
220kV side along with circuit breaker failure indication on D16Q2. 220kV
Bus Bar # 2 at Guddu power house also tripped at the same time. 220kV
Guddu – Sibbi line also got de-energize because D16Q1 of Guddu was
under fault.

 Upon tripping of 500/220kV transformer T-1 the remaining two auto

transformers T-2 & T-3 at Guddu tripped on over current indication as the
entire load was shifted on these transformers.

After above tripping, deficiency of 1175MW occurred in the main network

causing its frequency to suddenly depress. As a result major part of network
24 
 
from Guddu to Peshawar and Guddu to Hubco & K- Electric suffered
disturbance except following two islands feeding Sind & Multan areas,
remained intact.

iii. 220kV T.M. Khan – Kotri – FFC Wind (Lower Sind Island)
feeding Hyderabad
iv. 220kV Guddu – Shikarpur – UCH1 – UCH2 (Upper Sind Island)
feeding SEPCO and Multan area.

NPCC took necessary measures to save both islands from any further damage
by maintaining their voltage and frequency within permissible limits and
monitoring of other critical parameters.
Analysis

Two circuits 220kV Guddu - Sibbi cct & 220kV UCH-I – Sibbi cct # I connecting
Baluchistan side with Guddu were already out since 13-01-2015 due to bomb
blasting of three 220kV towers. After this outage a portion of 220kV UCH-I –
Sibbi cct # I & 220kV Guddu – Sibbi cct was jumpered together on 18-01-2015 by
NTDC to utilize generation of UCH-II power plant.

At the time of incident only one 220kV link i.e. UCH-I – Sibbi cct # 2 was
available for Baluchistan side which was partially feeding Sibbi and Quetta area
(Remaining Baluchistan was being fed from 220kV Khuzdar & 220kV Loralai
Grid Stations). 500/220 kV Auto transformers T-1, T-2, T-3 at Guddu were
operating at 338MW (86% Load) each with UCH-I running at 569MW and UCH-
II running at 366MW.

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At 23:53Hrs the single 220kV Uch-I – Sibbi cct # 2 was bomb blasted causing
abrupt diversion of flow from Baluchistan side to 500/220kV auto transformers
and load on each of these transformers became 392MW (96 %) but 500/220 kV
auto transformers T-1 tripped along with breaker failure indication on D16Q2
breaker on 220kV side of Auto Transformer T-1 causing it to trip from LV side.

As a result auto transformer T-2 & T-3 tripped on over current, causing deficiency
of 1175MW on the main network which was being fed by 500/220kV transformers
and thus frequency of main power network was suddenly depressed which could
not recover by the under frequency protection installed at 11kV system of DISCOs
resulting in cascaded tripping on the main power system.

Bomb blasting of 220kV Uch-I – Sibbi cct # 2 suddenly diverted the power flow
from Baluchistan side to 220kV Uch-I – Guddu cct, and this extra power was then
fed to 500/220kV auto transformers T-1, T-2, T-3 at Guddu load on which
increased to 392MW each (96%) but without overloading of these transformers.
However one transformer T-1 tripped from LV side along with breaker failure and
bus bar protection. Remaining 500/220kV two transformers T-2 & T-3 then tripped
on over current. Tripping of 500/220kV auto transformers created a deficiency of
1175MW on the main network suddenly depressing its frequency which could not
recover and resulted in cascaded tripping.

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11 Remedial Measures to Avoid Such Events in Future
Following remedial measures are being taken to avoid any further system
disturbance/collapse:

11.1 Cross Trip Scheme at 500kV Guddu Grid Station

a) Existing cross trip scheme at Guddu G/S is not in working condition.
With 140% over loading of three 500/220 kV, 450 MVA Auto
transformers, generator unit no. 7 and 8 should trip, but unit no. 8 is
under overhauling. So, unit no.7 alongwith unit no.11 should trip.
b) With the tripping of 500 kV Guddu-Guddu (747 MW)-Multan circuit,
unit no. 7 and 8 should trip. But unfortunately, the cross trip scheme is
not working.

11.2 Defective Shunt Reactors at 500 kV Guddu, Dadu and Jamshoro Grid
Stations
In the absence of Shunt Reactors, the receiving end voltage increases as
compared to the sending end due to capacitance of the line (Ferranti effect).
So, in order to reclose the line, NPCC staff have to reduce the voltage at
Guddu (Generating end), which is also a cause of system instability. The
defective shunt reactors should be replaced with new ones. As per field
information, following shunt reactors are defective:

Table-1.2 Defective Shunt Reactors in South Region

Sr. Name of Transmission Line End
No.
1 500 kV Dadu – Jamshoro cct-1 Dadu
2 500 kV Dadu – Guddu cct-1 Dadu
3 500 kV Dadu – Jamshoro cct-2 Dadu
4 500 kV Dadu – Guddu cct-2 Dadu
 

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11.3 Poor Maintenance of 500 kV Transmission Lines in Guddu-Jamshoro-
Dadu Area
a) No proper means of cleaning insulators before start of foggy weather
are available with GSO (Hyderabad) NTDC, which leads the tripping
of lines and grid stations during foggy conditions.
b) As per enquiry report of Cause of Damage to towers of 500 kV
transmission line Dadu – Jamshoro-I and Jamshoro-Dadu line-2 on
17-04-2014 :
i. Due to shortage of braces, the amplitude of tower vibrations
increases abnormally which develops air cracks/ corrosion of
steel in tower members and stubs resulting in the weakness of
towers. So, the maintenance crew should replace the
stolen/missing braces.

11.4 Wiring Indications / Cross-Trip Scheme Problems at Guddu G/S and

TPS Guddu
Too many problems regarding wiring/indications at Guddu power
house/Guddu grid station. No proper testing of circuit breakers and the
relays. Each and every relay except bus bar protection should be tested
annually. The tripping of the breaker through the operation of protective
relays / indications etc. should also be checked during the shutdown. Open-
Close-Open time cycle should also be checked during testing. Problems
regarding communication/ SCADA should properly be attended by CE
(Telecom).

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11.5 Installation of Thermal Over Load Protection on ATB-1 and ATB-2:
No thermal over load protection was available on 450MVA Auto T/F Bank-
1 & Auto T/F Bank-2.In the absence of Thermal O/L protection T/F’s were
not loaded properly keeping in view the thermal over heating characteristic
curve. Two nos Thermal O/L relays have been allocated for Auto T/F banks
T-1 & T-2 on dated 30.01.2015.

11.6 Implementation of under frequency relays in DISCO’s

Under Frequency Realys for automatic load shedding were blocked in
GEPCO, MEPCO, and LESCO which was also a cause of Power System
collapse. Recently as per directions of Ministry of Water and Power the
under frequency relays have been put back in service in all Discos except 03
Nos relays are defected as per detail given below:
CE (SP) on dated 30.01.2015 vide letter No CE/SP/ 620-626 has already
conveyed the instructions of Ministry of Water and Power to the respective
CEO’s (PESCO, HESCO,LESCO) to replace the defective U/F relays in
their jurisdictions at their own level within a week time positively.

It is to be pointed out here that under frequency scheme of K-Electric area is

not available with System Protection NTDC department. The scheme should
be implemented / checked by GM NPCC office.

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 Table-1.3 Under Frequency Load Shedding Scheme

Updated Status of Automatic Load Shedding Under Frequency Relays

No of Circuits on which No. of Circuits No. of circuits on Balance
Sr. Name of U/frequency relays installed on which U/F which U/F relays defective/
No DISCO relays were in service (Status blocked
11 KV 66 KV 132 KV Blocked as on 30-01-2015) Relays
Feeders Feeders feeders
1  QESCO  0  2  7  0  9  0 
One relay 
7 No. on (11 KV 
2  HESCO  43  1  1  38  defective for 7 
Feeders) 
Feeders 
3  SEPCO  11  5  1  0  17  0 
Totally Blocked 
4  GEPCO  29  1  4  34  0 
on 34 Feeders 
All activated on 
5  FESCO  27  1  2  dated 04‐02‐ 0  0 
2014 
Totally Blocked 
6  MEPCO  33  5  3  41  0 
on 41 Feeders 
1 relay 
Blocked  on 69 
7  LESCO  78  1  1  66  defective for 8 
Feeders 
feeders 
Blocked on 16   2 relays for 16 
8  PESCO  50  6  2  42 
Feeders  Feeders 
All were in 
9  IESCO  11  1  2  0  0 
service 
10  TESCO  Nil  Nil  Nil  Nil  Nil  Nil 

11.7 Cross Trip Schemes

Following cross trip schemes have been reviewed:

1. 500/220 kV Tarbella power house.

2. 500 kV Ghazi Barotha power house.
3. Auto transformer banks T-1, T-2 and T-3 at 500/220 kV TPS Guddu
4. 500/220 kV Lahore grid station.
5. 500/220 kV Gatti grid station.
6. 500/220 kV Sheikh Muhammadi, Peshawar grid station.

30 
 
Cross-trip schemes at Tarbella, Barotha are in working condition. Remaining
schemes are not working which needs to be modified. Similarly, the remaining
cross –trip schemes and new cross trip schemes for 500 kV grid stations and power
houses will be established & implemented.

11.8 Under Voltage Scheme

It is possible that system voltage can go down at different locations in
NTDC network. Keeping in view, under voltage scheme were carried out at
500 kV Sheikh Muhammadi grid station as per detail given below:
When the voltage reach at 500 kV bus bar to 475 kV, it will trip six 132 kV
feeders. This scheme is faulty since 02-04-2013 (Terrorist attack).
Similarly, the under voltage schemes at other stations need to be checked.

11.9 Sequence Event Recorder (SER) & Fault Recorder (FR)

Sequence Event Recorder (SER) and Fault Recorders are faulty, especially
at 500 kV NKI, Guddu, Dadu, Jamshoro and other sub stations etc. In the
absence of SER and FR, the proper tripping analysis cannot be done. After
the allocation of SER and FR, system protection department will prepare
interconnection and wiring diagram for installation of SER and FR at
various sub stations.

31 
 
12 Conclusion & Recommendations
Analysis of the recent blackouts reveal that improper maintenance of
transmission system, defective shunt reactors in the south region, non
functioning of under frequency relays, cross trip schemes and lack of
coordination between relevant departments led to such disaster. It is also
worth mentioning here that there is no redundant link in the south of the
country. Only two 500kV transmission lines connect south region with rest
of the country. It is therefore recommended that new redundant links should
be constructed between Guddu & Dadu.

32 
 
13 References
[1] http://www.ntdc.com.pk/WapdaPowerHistory.php (Accessed in Sep, 2015)
[2] "Report: An Overview of Electricity Sector in Pakistan", Islamabad
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2011.
[3] http://www.kesc.com.pk/en/article/ourcompany/whoweare-1.html (Accessed
in Sep, 2015)
[4] http://www.wapda.gov.pk/htmls/auth-index.html (Accessed in May, 2013)
[5] A. Malik, " Power crisis in Pakistan: A crisis in governance," Pakistan
Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, 2012
[6] http://www.pmic.gov.pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=
1706&Itemid=612 (Accessed in Sep, 2015)

[7] http://www.pepco.gov.pk/ (Accessed in Sep, 2015)

[8] http://www.wapda.gov.pk/htmls/pgeneration-ipps.html (Accessed in May,
2015)

[9] "Package of Incentives for Private Sector Power Generation Projects in

Pakistan", Power Policy 1994, Government of Pakistan, March 1994.
[10] "Policy for New Private Independent Power Projects ", Power Policy 1998,
Government of Pakistan, July 1998.
[11] http://www.pesco.gov.pk/index.asp (Accessed in Sep, 2015)
[12] "NEPRA Grid Code, 2005", NEPRA, Government of Pakistan, pp. 84–86,
2005.
[13] P. Lof, T. Smed, G. Andersson, and D. Hill, "Fast calculation of a voltage
stability index," IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 7, no.1, pp. 54-
64, February 1992.
 

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