SSGC improves supplies

Supply of gas to KESC increased to 180 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) by the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

KARACHI: The supply of gas to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has been increased to 180 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) by the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

“Supply may improve further as we receive more gas from the Bhit and Kadanwari gas plants,” SSGC spokesperson Inayatullah Ismail told The Express Tribune. Production at the two plants situated in Sindh had been hampered since Wednesday due to technical reasons.

Bhit gas field produces between 342 and 345 mmcfd of gas, but at present only 320 mmcfd is being produced from the site. Meanwhile, officials assert that Kadanwari gas field is back to full capacity, producing 156 mmcfd. “Around 180 mmcfd is being received as of Friday,” confirmed KESC spokesperson Amir Abbasi. “The schedule of power outages has been reverted.”

Giving details, he said that in low-loss areas power was cut three times a day for one hour each, while in high-loss areas the duration was 90 minutes for each interval.

However, officials at the power distribution company remain critical of SSGC. “We have been forced to burn 35 per cent more furnace oil this year compared with last year,” said Abbasi.

On the other hand, the SSGC spokesperson asserted: “KESC was being provided about 220 mmcfd before these two plants encountered problems and that level of supply will be restored as our own production improves.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2010.