Fuel crisis: 6 hours a day gas closure at CNG stations

Extra curtailment for Sheikhupura, areas in Lahore with low gas pressure.

LAHORE:

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has decided to cut the gas supply to CNG stations in Sheikhupura and some regions of Lahore by six hours a day, adding to the three-day weekly closure of CNG stations, for the benefit of domestic consumers in low pressure areas.

Captain Shuja, the vice chairman of the the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA), which launched a Pakistan-wide strike of CNG stations on Sunday, said that the association would announce its official reaction to the decision after holding discussions.

He said that Sheikhupura CNG stations had received notices from SNGPL for the additional hours of gas curtailment. He said that in some areas of Lahore, SNGPL shut off supply to CNG stations during peak times for three hours in the morning and three in the evening. “They tried this tactic last year as well but had to stop it after the association protested strongly,” he said.

Rehan Aziz, SNGPL general manager (sales), said the company had taken the initiative at Captain Shuja’s suggestion. He said that after the Lahore High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by the association, Shuja had suggested that the SNGPL implement hourly curtailment in areas with low gas pressure.

“The company has taken the step for the benefit of domestic consumers. The CNG compressors in these regions mean domestic consumers get low gas pressure during peak hours and they can’t even run the stove,” he said.

Aziz said that domestic consumer were SNGPL’s highest priority customers.

CNG strike

Meanwhile, there was mixed observance of the strike called by the APCNGA in Punjab in protest at increased gas prices. More than half the CNG stations in Lahore remained open on Sunday, the first day of the strike, as the All Pakistan CNG Dealers Association did not back the strike call.

Many APCNGA members also opened their stations later in the day. Long queues began forming at CNG stations at night, which is normal on Sunday evening as the gas closure begins on Monday morning.

Shuja said that the APCNGA had expected that the strike would only be half-observed in Lahore as the APCNGDA had made clear they would not back the strike. However, he said that the other association was strong only in Lahore and stations elsewhere in Punjab remained closed on Sunday. He said the strike would continue till the gas price hike was cancelled.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd,  2012.