KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced a two-day closure of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations on Wednesday and Friday this week in Sindh and Balochistan.
All CNG stations in Sindh and Balochistan would remain closed for 24 hours from 9am Wednesday (December 28) to 9am Thursday (December 29). Another closure would be from 9am Friday (December 30) up to 9am Saturday (December 31), said a press release issued by SSGC on Monday.
Federal Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain said at the weekend the government was considering shutting down CNG stations in Sindh for one month if the gap in demand and supply of gas continued.
In an attempt to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to residential consumers, the government is also considering closing CNG stations in upper parts of the country for two months because of acute shortage of the commodity in winter.
Both gas distribution companies, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), are facing low gas pressure following a sharp rise in demand in winter for heating purposes.
According to experts, the rapid expansion of CNG stations, which consume 11 per cent of total gas, in the last decade has widened the gas demand-supply gap in the country.
SSGC management says the CNG stations are being closed to improve the line pack all over the company’s franchise area of Sindh and Balochistan, which has been badly disturbed due to heavy gas demand.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2011.
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