CNG dealers set deadline for improving gas supply

To launch protests across the country against low gas pressure.


Express December 21, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Compressed natural gas (CNG) suppliers have accused the government of deliberately violating gas supply agreements with different stakeholders including CNG dealers, industrial and commercial consumers and set a deadline of January 7 for improving gas supply before hardening their stance by launching a series of protests across the country.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, All Pakistan CNG Association Chairman Ghayas Abdullah Paracha alleged gas pressure had been reduced in big cities in a bid to favour tycoons involved in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business.

He said the government and regulatory authorities including Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, provincial transport authorities and Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) had failed to put in place safety checks and establish laboratories to examine CNG cylinders and kits used in vehicles.

In recent days, several people have been killed and injured in gas cylinder explosions in public transport vehicles.

“We know that the government is supplying gas to the industrial sector against the agreement and is trying to create an impression that the CNG sector is responsible for the low gas pressure so that it could continue gas supply to the industries and bring expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG),” Paracha said.

He pointed out that the government violated the agreement between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and industrial units under which gas supply to the industry should remain suspended for three months from December to February.

“Fertiliser, domestic and CNG sectors do not have alternative options while others have more ways to run their business,” he said.

Certain industries like ghee mills and textile sizing units were being supplied gas without any interruption and “if they share the gas load management, then an additional 50 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas will be available.” Captive power plants of industrial units consumed more than 250 mmcfd of gas, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2011.

 

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