All that gas

It is unfair now to the people who paid for the conversion, to suddenly find that there is no more CNG.


Editorial February 05, 2013
CNG closures across the country have now become the norm. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS/FILE

Less than 10 years ago, the government bulldozed ahead with a strategy to shift the majority of vehicles plying our roads to CNG. This was done based on the rising cost of fuel imports and because we had natural gas reserves that would last us ‘hundreds of years’. These estimates were made by government and private sector feasibilities. In fact, it was based on these feasibilities that Pakistan saw billions of dollars invested in the fertiliser sector, too. The scenario is vastly different now.

In a recent decision, the Economic Coordination Committee has allocated CNG the lowest priority in the new gas load management plan, after domestic, general industry, power and cement industry. Viewed as an isolated decision, and in the current way CNG is being consumed, it is fair to allocate last priority to CNG. It is not a necessity. Initially viewed as the poor man’s fuel, it is being used by everyone but the poor.

However, if viewed as part of the bigger picture, then the government itself is to blame for the misuse of CNG. It is the lack of regulation that allowed people with expensive cars to install CNG kits. If the government had played its role in ensuring that CNG was used only by cars that were 1,000cc and smaller, and ensured that public transporters reduced their fares in line with the lower cost of CNG, we would not be in the current mess. It is unfair now to the people who paid for the conversion, to suddenly find that there is no more CNG. It is even more unfair to the investors who injected billions in installing CNG kits and pumps to suddenly be asked to shut up shop. And where are the government and private sector geologists who gave us gas reserves estimates, which have now been discredited? Why is there no accountability for them? But then, there really is no way to verify the government’s claim that now, we no longer have as much gas as we originally thought. We just have to take its word.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.

COMMENTS (4)

Ashraf | 11 years ago | Reply

Actally consumtion of gas in CNG sector is 20% instead of 10%.in 2000 when CNG sector is not promoted gas loses is about 2~3% as compared to 10~12% presently .10% increase in gas loses due to CNG sector. How CNG sector offered upto 40% discount in past it is because of theft gas. ALl Cng owner are fuedal and land political person of their areas . How SNGPL meter reader check/ monitor them . They are getting throuh direct lines. only solution to wind up CNG sector and government have reduce taxes on petrol to bring it price down . Benificaryies of CNG are transporters and car owner not genaral public. tranporters are not pass on any dicount on fair due to low price CNG . We are providing CNG on the cost of our industry and economy

JS | 11 years ago | Reply

The real crux of the matter is that although CNG consumes only 10% of the country's Gas produced, CNG is also responsible for approx. 98% of UFG (Unaccounted for Gas) losses. UFG losses at the moment are 25% of total Gas produced. So in actuality CNG sector is consuming/losing/stealing/siphoning approx. 35% of the country's Gas!!!

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