Gas outages to increase in Punjab

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited announces increased gas outages in Punjab for nine days starting Sunday.

LAHORE: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has announced increased gas outages in Punjab for nine days starting Sunday. As per the revised schedule of outages, gas supply will be curtailed to industries for three days a week and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations for two days. Previously, supply was curtailed to both sectors for one day a week.

Moreover, the supply of gas has also been restricted to Pepco power plants while provisions to independent power providers continue as per routine.

Not only will the move negatively impact foreign exchange reserves because of increased reliance on imported oil by power producers and transporters who will be forced to switch to petrol but it could have a serious impact on employment. An estimated 21,000 daily wage earners, for example, work at CNG stations across Punjab alone.

The All Pakistan CNG Association and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association have both called for emergency meetings early next week to chalk out a response to the notification sent by SNGPL. It has been learnt that CNG dealers are planning to go on strike in protest against the curtailment decision.

Meanwhile, SNGPL has asserted that it has to resort to gas outages because it is facing a shortfall of between 200 and 250 million cubic feet per day. According to them, the Qadirpur gas field is already closed for maintenance while output from the Zamazama field has declined and it will also need to be shut down from Sunday due to technical faults.

MD SNGPL Rashid Lone has said that the company will ensure that supply is resumed within nine days but also warned that annual gas outages scheduled in the winter season were due to start on November 15.

Indicating more trouble for industries and other users, the MD said that because of rapidly changing weather conditions the scheduled gas outages could start even earlier than the mentioned date.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2010.