CNG crises: OGRA plans to shutdown pumps in residential areas
Sources say the authority is going to issue notices to CNG pumps.
Sources said Ogra had also proposed to the ministry of petroleum to place a ban on the use of CNG in private services vehicles and limit the use of CNG to public transport. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In view of the gas crisis and rising incidents of CNG cylinder blasts, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to launch a drive to wipe out hundreds of CNG stations operating in residential areas.
At present, over 3,000 CNG stations are operating in the country and majority of them are located in residential areas.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the regulator would serve notices on residential areas’ CNG stations Monday (today) – a move that would lead to closure of these CNG stations across the country.
Ogra would issue notices to CNG stations near mosques, schools and hospitals in residential areas and seek explanations as to under which policy these outlets were established and what measures they had taken to ensure safety of the people living around. The sources said Ogra had decided to suspend the licences of these stations if they failed to satisfy the authority.
Ogra has already directed all transport authorities to launch a crackdown on vehicles fitted with uncertified CNG or LPG cylinders. In May Ogra imposed a ban on vehicles in which CNG cylinders were fitted beneath the seats and disconnected gas connections of 22 CNG filling stations on charges of violation. However this ban did not apply on vehicles with CNG cylinders fitted on roofs.
Sources said Ogra had also proposed to the ministry of petroleum to place a ban on the use of CNG in private services vehicles and limit the use of CNG to public transport, in view of gas crisis and tragic incidents of cylinder explosions.
The regulator said courts had also taken notice of the loss of lives and property in such incidents and Ogra had requested chief secretaries, transport secretaries and the four provinces’ inspectors general of police to take action against uncertified CNG cylinders installed beneath passenger seats and the people involved in installing dubious CNG kits and fittings.
As part of its energy policy, PML-N led government has decided to phase out CNG sector to divert gas to the power sector for overcoming energy crisis. The petroleum ministry has already proposed to bring CNG prices at 85% parity of petrol to discourage its use in auto sector. However the government has still to take the final decision.
“The CNG sector in Pakistan uses over 300 million cubic feet (mmcfd) gas per day; whereas government also needs to focus on captive power plants which, being inefficient, result on gas wastage,” an official said adding that this sector used 450 mmcfd gas which National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had termed a criminal act.
“The government should impose a ban on provision of gas to new villages on political grounds till the discovery of new gas reserves,” official added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2013.
In view of the gas crisis and rising incidents of CNG cylinder blasts, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to launch a drive to wipe out hundreds of CNG stations operating in residential areas.
At present, over 3,000 CNG stations are operating in the country and majority of them are located in residential areas.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the regulator would serve notices on residential areas’ CNG stations Monday (today) – a move that would lead to closure of these CNG stations across the country.
Ogra would issue notices to CNG stations near mosques, schools and hospitals in residential areas and seek explanations as to under which policy these outlets were established and what measures they had taken to ensure safety of the people living around. The sources said Ogra had decided to suspend the licences of these stations if they failed to satisfy the authority.
Ogra has already directed all transport authorities to launch a crackdown on vehicles fitted with uncertified CNG or LPG cylinders. In May Ogra imposed a ban on vehicles in which CNG cylinders were fitted beneath the seats and disconnected gas connections of 22 CNG filling stations on charges of violation. However this ban did not apply on vehicles with CNG cylinders fitted on roofs.
Sources said Ogra had also proposed to the ministry of petroleum to place a ban on the use of CNG in private services vehicles and limit the use of CNG to public transport, in view of gas crisis and tragic incidents of cylinder explosions.
The regulator said courts had also taken notice of the loss of lives and property in such incidents and Ogra had requested chief secretaries, transport secretaries and the four provinces’ inspectors general of police to take action against uncertified CNG cylinders installed beneath passenger seats and the people involved in installing dubious CNG kits and fittings.
As part of its energy policy, PML-N led government has decided to phase out CNG sector to divert gas to the power sector for overcoming energy crisis. The petroleum ministry has already proposed to bring CNG prices at 85% parity of petrol to discourage its use in auto sector. However the government has still to take the final decision.
“The CNG sector in Pakistan uses over 300 million cubic feet (mmcfd) gas per day; whereas government also needs to focus on captive power plants which, being inefficient, result on gas wastage,” an official said adding that this sector used 450 mmcfd gas which National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had termed a criminal act.
“The government should impose a ban on provision of gas to new villages on political grounds till the discovery of new gas reserves,” official added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2013.