The power-reliant textile millers have called for diversion of gas from Captive Power Plants (CPPs) to thermal generation companies (Gencos) for an affordable as well as smooth energy supply to industry across the board. Ongoing energy crisis, emanating from gas scarcity and unaffordable petroleum prices, could be tamed by suspending gas supply to CPPs-owned textile mills and redirecting to Pepco-owned Gencos, they added.
They said it would also ensure a level playing field so far as tariff disparity between Pepco-reliant and SNGPL-fed textile units is concerned. At present, the Pepco-reliant textile units are paying about three rupees per unit additional comparing with the SNGPL-fed units in the country.
However, the opponents of proposal have genuine fears and serious concerns about uninterrupted power supply to their units in case they agree on diversion of gas from their CPPs to the Gencos. "There is no one who can assure of smooth sailing once they surrender their share in gas consumption against CNG pumps and domestic consumers," said one miller having a CPP to generate electricity for his textile unit.
The textile industry is consuming 325MMCFD gas on the SNGPL network. Besides, another 300MMCFD is consumed for general industry to generate electricity through CPPs. Most of the CPPs were installed in early 2000s during Musharraf regime when policymakers encouraged the industry and CNG business to divert to Sui gas for environment friendly and cheap fuel. The situation changed altogether by 2010 when demand for gas surpassed the supply side, leaving the industry into a crisis like situation. Today, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), a leading trade body of textile industry, is running from pillar to post for gas supply to their mills.
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