Dr Asim for new wells gas supply only to industries

Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain has announced that in the future gas discovered from new wells would only be supplied to the industrial estates in the country. Addressing the members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) on Monday, he further announced that there will not provide gas connections to new housing projects, societies and other sectors in the country.
He said that gas will be supplied to new housing sector from Shell gas and added that Shell Gas Project has been prepared and work on its polite project will be initiated soon at a cost of two million dollars. Total estimated cost of project is around 3.7 billion dollars, he added. "In order to meet the gas shortfall during the current season, gas exploration companies have been asked to ensure maximum supply of gas along with import of LNG," the minister said.
He said that a complete ban has been imposed on granting permission for establishing new CNG stations in the country. However, he assured that already existing CNG station will get gas as per the policy. The minister advised industrialists and trade bodies to establish their own power generating units to meet the requirement of their respective industrial estate. He assured that government will supply gas to these units. Referring to the issue of circular debt in the energy sector, Dr Asim Hussain said a permanent solution has been chalked out and modalities are being finalised. Some newspapers have polished few future of it which have positive impact on shares of oil sector at stock exchange. However he gives no details of the circular debt permanent solution. This solution will ensure the 100 percent operational of all power plants, refineries and smooth supply of fuel and there will be no future circular debt.
The minister directed all the refineries in the country to upgrade their units on or before 2014 and make them compatible with international standards and warned that those refiners failed to meet this deadly will be closed. He expressed concern that these refineries output is substandard which is hazardous for environment and human health.
About gas infrastructure surcharge, he said, it has been decided to impose 'Gas Infrastructure Surcharge' that will replace GDS and it would be used for development of gas infrastructure. He said that work on Pakistan-Turkmenistan pipeline is in progress and likely to be completed on schedule.
He expressed that all the mess exists in the country due to non-existing of long term policies. The policies were being made on ad hoc basis during the past 64 years in the country. We are in process to compel long term publicity for future generations Leader of business community, S.M. Munir urged the minister to allow private sector to import LPG and legislate in this regard if required. He expressed concern over the news that government is going to closed down CNG stations and said business community made huge investment which may go waste and shake confidence on government policies.
Former chairman Kati, Mian Zahid Hussain said that a policy should be made to reactivate closed used oil refining and making than reusable units. Chairman Kati, Ahtishamuddion urged the minister to expedite work on alternate energy sector as gap between demand and supply widening with the passage of time.