By Fakhar Hayat Jutt
ISLAMABAD, June 29, Diplomatic Star (DS): Due to reduced availability of gas by two state-owned companies, low pressure in the system and dry docking of LNG terminals, the supply of gas to industries and CNG stations will be stopped till July 5. At the same time, the gas crisis has intensified across the country.
According to the Dawn newspaper, CNG stations across Sindh were scheduled to reopen on June 28, but Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) has now suspended gas supply till July 5.
SSGCL is facing a shortfall of 160 MMCFD per annum from the Kunar Paskhi Deep (KPD) gas field due to which there is a shortage of gas and low pressure in the system.
Due to dry docking of LNG terminal, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has completely cut off gas supply to three sectors, cement, CNG and non-export industries. ۔
Energy Minister Hamad Azhar had told a private news channel that the dry docking of the Engro RLNG terminal would reduce the supply of gas to industries and the CNG sector.
At a press conference held at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) headquarters in Karachi, stakeholders blamed poor management, inefficient decision-making and the government for the crisis. Given
FPCCI President Mian Nasir Hayat Mago said that the crisis would be a great loss to the business community and the people alike.
“This will affect businesses and reduce production and exports,” he said.
Mian Nasir said that sales tax on LNG for CNG sector has been increased from 5% to 17%, besides 5% customs duty has also been imposed.
He demanded that the decision be reversed immediately.
The FPCCI chief said that the whole country was in the grip of energy crisis due to untimely import of LNG.
He added that this is not the right time to go for the annual repair and maintenance of the LNG terminal.
He said that the government did not import gas nor did it allow the CNG sector to do so.
Mian Nasir said the nationwide gas suspension was unacceptable as it would hurt the people, industry and the CNG sector.
Ghias Abdullah Paracha, leader of the All Pakistan CNG Association, said energy sector policies were not in line with the ground realities.
He said the crisis would continue till the CNG sector was allowed to import its gas.
“If we import our gas, the load shedding will end and the government will earn Rs 82 billion, but this is not acceptable to some bureaucrats,” he said.
Gas suspension in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On the other hand, Sui Northern Gas Company suspended the supply of gas to two major consumers of the fertilizer sector, Agritech and Fatima, on the basis of dry docking at the LNG terminal till July 5.
According to a statement issued to the concerned senior officers, unplanned dry docking in Terminal One will affect gas supply from June 29 to July 5.
According to the statement, the supply of gas / RLNG to the CNG, cement and non-export industrial sectors in the franchised areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be affected as per the decision of the June 9 meeting to handle gas supply during this period.
At present, SNGPL is facing a problem of more than 600 mm per hour of RLNG due to the restoration of the terminal, an official said.
He said that the company was receiving 600 MMCFD gas through LNG Terminal 2 and about 850 MMCFD gas from various gas fields.
