Approximately two hours ago, Pakistan suffered from a major power failure. More than 80% of the country was without power. The cause of the power failure according to WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) was HUBCO (a power plant located near Karachi). HUBCO contributes 1200MW of electricity to the national power grid. Due to a technical fault, the power plant failed causing all of the load to be shifted to Mangla and Tarbela power houses. Mangla contributes 600MW to the national power grid while Tarbela contributes 1800MW. When they were overloaded with this new power burden, they also tripped causing a nationwide blackout. As of right now (2:00 am PST), WAPDA is gradually restoring the power supply to all affected areas. Embedded below are tweets providing information about the power failure in Pakistan.
Gradual power restoration in progress #Pakistan #BlackoutInPakistan
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
2 grid stations in #Islamabad now receiving full electricity #Pakistan #BlackoutInPakistan
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#Tarbela power house has been restored
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Power restored to some areas of #Islamabad #Pakistan #BlackoutInPakistan
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Pervez Ashraf personally monitoring #BlackoutInPakistan #Pakistan
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#WAPDA officials say #HUBCO's tripping caused #BlackoutInPakistan #Pakistan
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
700MW - 800MW left in the power system of #Pakistan right now.
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
1200MW from #HUBCO, 1800MW from #Tarbela and 600MW from #Mangla has been cutoff from national grid.
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Inquiry into establishing responsibility for the National Grid tripping in #Pakistan!
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Power outage in #Pakistan. More than 80% of the country without electricity!
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Average electricity production in #Pakistan is 9000MW. Which is 50% of capacity. 1/3rd of that is down. #BlackOut #PakistanBlackout
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Prime Minister #Pakistan has taken notice of the breakdown
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Emergency teams dispatched to #Mangla #Tarbela and #HUBCO
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#Hyderabad #Pakistan without electricity. All industrial zones shut down in #Sindh. #Pakistan #Blackout #PakistanBlackout
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
All major hospitals in #Sindh without electricity. Patients in extreme discomfort! #Pakistan #PakistanBlackout #Blackout
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#WAPDA saying it will take 2 - 2.5 hours to restore electricity to the National Grid. #Pakistan #BlackOut #PakistanBlackout
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#KESC trying to restore its system itself. It receives 650MW from #WAPDA #Pakistan #PakistanBlackout #BlackOut
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#HUBCO, #Mangla and #Tarbela have all tripped. 80% of #Pakistan without electricity!
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Entire Punjab suffering from power outage! #Pakistan #Blackout
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
#Pakistan powe supply disrupted. 80% of the country without electricity!
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Total #BLACKOUT in #PAKISTAN!!!
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013
Major power breakdown. 80% of #Pakistan in darkness
— Hamza Malik (@hmz_89) February 24, 2013