CNG outlets to stay closed for three days

Shutdown is part of SNGPL’s load management schedule.

FAISALABAD: A three-day suspension of gas supply to all compressed natural gas (CNG) stations of Faisalabad will begin from Thursday morning.

The shutdown is part of a load management schedule of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), which was prepared to overcome gas shortage at main fields.

In an announcement, SNGPL said gas supply to CNG stations would remain suspended from 6am on March 15 to 6am on March 18.

“CNG stations should avoid supplying gas to vehicles during closure days. In case of violation, they will be handed down heavy fines besides cutting off gas connections,” it warned. However, the CNG Station Owners Association protested against the weekly suspension of gas supply, saying this was not the right way to overcome the shortage. The government should search for new reserves of coal and gas to deal with the shortfall, it said.

The association also sought exemption for CNG stations from the gas load management schedule.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2012.