LAHORE: Gas crisis worsened in Punjab on Monday after the shortfall surged to 400MMCFD, forcing the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) to divert to the domestic sector a supply of about 275MMCFD, out of over 400MMCFD liquefied natural gas (LNG) meant for the industrial, power and CNG sectors.
\nAlthough the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not as dire as in Punjab, consumers have started complaining about low gas pressure there as well.
\nThe SNGPL clai\u00admed to have launched a campaign against those using compressors to extract gas in parts of Punjab and KP, causing low gas pressure.
\nAt present, the company supplies around 1,400 to 1,500MMCFD to the domestic sector, which needs supplies ranging between 1,800 and 1,900MMCFD to meet the demand of about five million consumers in Punjab and KP.
\nLNG supply to industrial, power and CNG sectors cut to meet domestic demand
\n\u201cFollowing severe cold, the situation appears to be tough these days. The shortfall has surged to 400MMCFD amid a demand of 1,800-1,900MMCFD, even though we have curtailed LNG supply to two major fertiliser plants, as many power plants and the CNG sector, and diverted it to the domestic sector,\u201d SNGPL managing director Amjad Latif told Media.
\nThe fertiliser plants \u2014 Fatima Fertiliser (Pvt) in Sheikhupura and Pak Arab Fertilisers (Pvt) in Multan \u2014 consume 90 to 100MMCFD of gas.
\nLikewise, gas supply to the Rousch Power Plant, the Abdul Hakim Power Plant (in Kabirwala and Khanewal respectively) and the Libe\u00adrty Power Plant, in Mirpur Mathelo, has been suspen\u00added for an indefinite period.
\n\u201cThe Rousch Power Plant was being supplied 90 to 95MMCFD while Liberty consumes 40 to 45MMCFD… However, the supply to Liberty Power Plant has been curtailed on account of non-payment of bills… and not for overcoming the gas crisis,\u201d the MD said.
\nHe said the supply to other industries, including textiles, continued. The textile sector and other industries that have switched over to LNG are being supplied 100 to 150MMCFD.
\nBut the supply to different industrial units in Punjab, which have not shifted to LNG despite repeated reque\u00adsts, was curtailed last month.
\n\u201cThe situation is really problematic these days and we are trying hard to ensure gas supply to at least domestic consumers during winter,\u201d Mr Latif said.
\nTo a question, he said the use of compressor by some consumers to extract gas was a headache for the company as it made it difficult to keep pressure. During the last 30 days or so, over 3,000 consumers in Punjab and KP have been caught red-han\u00added for using compressors.
\nThe SNGPL has cut connection of such consumers for three months.
\n\u201cKeeping in view the situation, we have asked the federal government to amend the laws and provide judicial powers to the SNGPL to enable it to take stern legal action agai\u00adnst those using compressors to extract gas,\u201d the MD said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE: Gas crisis worsened in Punjab on Monday after the shortfall surged to 400MMCFD, forcing the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) to divert to the domestic sector a supply of about 275MMCFD, out of over 400MMCFD liquefied natural gas (LNG) meant for the industrial, power and CNG sectors. Although the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10047","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n