Timing issues: ‘Building second LNG terminal a mistake right now’

ICST Patron Shahid Rasheed said the masses will have to pay for wrong planning of policymakers

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) has criticised the government’s decision to establish another LNG terminal to feed power houses of Punjab as it would result in colossal losses to the national exchequer.

“The construction of a second LNG terminal with 600 mmcfd capacity should be delayed until the completion of the LNG pipeline from Karachi to Lahore, otherwise, it would be counterproductive,” ICST Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a press release.

He said the first terminal has the capacity to process 600 mmcfd of fuel while the pipelines cannot transport more than 400 mmcfd, therefore, it would result in underutilisation and penalty to the tune of billions.

He said the masses will have to pay for wrong planning of policymakers since the second terminal would remain idle and the burden of penalty would be transferred on to the masses as usual.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2016.

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