Industries to face 1-3 days a week without gas

Industries and CNG stations to face days without Sui gas this winter, no load shedding for domestic consumers.

LAHORE: Industries will face one to three days and CNG stations two days per week without Sui gas this winter, but there will be no gas load shedding for domestic consumers, officials of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) have told The Express Tribune.

This gas supply management policy will apply from November 15, just two days before Eidul Azha, to March 15. “The gas supply to industrial consumers and CNG stations will depend directly on domestic demand,” said Rehan Nawaz, general manager for retail sales at SNGPL. “As domestic demand increases, supply to industrial units and CNG stations will be closed.” Since the Sui gas field at Zamzama came back on line after repair work, Sui gas production in Pakistan has reached 4,000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD). Of this. the SNGPL gets 1,950 MMCFD, which it then supplies to 3.8 million consumers in Punjab and Khyber-Pakthunkhawa.

CNG consumers said the twice-a-week closure of CNG stations was a huge financial burden because of the comparatively high cost of petrol. “I will have to cut other expenses due to this closure,” said Yasir, a car driver. “A one-day closure is manageable but two or three days a week is not.”

Sohail Kamran, a resident of Model Town, said the closure of CNG stations would affect his family’s Eid holidays. “We will not be able to visit our relatives and my children will not be happy on Eid,” he said.

Mian Anjum Nasir, former president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, said the Sui gas supply should be divided equitably among the provinces.

He said the Punjab would suffer major economic loss because of the closure of gas supply to industries.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2010.