Gas loadshedding to reduce

Sui Northern Gas authorities issue new gas load shedding schedule as gas supplies from Zamzama gas field resumes.

Sui Northern Gas authorities issued a new gas loadshedding schedule after gas supplies from the Zamzama gas field resumed on Thursday.

Industries will now experience gas load shedding for two days a week while CNG stations will remain closed for one day instead of two.

Authorities say the gas supply from Zamzama gas field was suspended for nine days for repair work. This led to an increase in the gas cuts for industries and CNG stations.

Now with the supply being restored, the earlier schedule will be followed again.

Sui Gas officials say gas supply to cement, fertilizer, textile , chemical and power sector will continue according to schedule.

Last month, SSGC warned of gas supplies being severely affected. The company had requested all industrial zones of Karachi to reduce their consumption of gas while the Zamzama gas field undergoes scheduled maintenance.

An announcement said that “in view of the annual turnaround of the Zamzama gas field, requisite natural gas quantities of 204 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) will not be available to SSGC”.

This led to gas supplies being reduced for the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and power outages increased in the city. Trade organisations in Karachi called for a strike but later rescinded the call when the Sindh’s Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, assured them of emergency measures to ensure the supply of electricity to industries.