TUESDAY APRIL 19: Shake-up in oil and gas sector: advertisements for top posts within 10 days

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, formally announced on Monday a major shake-up in all state-run oil and gas sector. While addressing a press conference here, Dr Asim said that all heads of public sector entities had failed to deliver when the country was facing energy crisis.
He said that change of heads of state run entities in oil and gas sector would be affected under proper procedure and notifications would be issued soon to this effect. "Advertisements will be given to hire services of professional people to fill slots of managing directors of all public sector companies to ensure transparency," he said.
The heads of around fifteen companies including Pakistan State Oil, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) will be replaced and board of directors will be restructured. "Some heads of companies have resigned, while tenure of some heads of public sector entities is over," Dr Asim said adding that all those employees exceeding 60 years age in the companies would stand retired.
"We need reputable people to head companies and there will be a paradigm shift while restructuring the board of directors as time has come to focus on supply side management on fast track basis" Dr Asim Hussain said, adding that Tight Gas Policy would be announced soon enabling the country to bring 400 mmcfd gas in system within three to four years.
Dr Asim said, "Within ten days there will be advertisement for the posts and candidates for the top posts will be selected through an international advertisement and there will be no nepotism and merit and transparency will be maintained in this regards." To a question, Dr Asim said that billions of rupees of energy related inter-corporate circular debt had bogged down the entire fuel supply chain and threatened the economic progress and soon in consultation with Planning Commission and Finance Ministry, a formula will be prepared to end the menace to reduce country's woes. He said drastic measures would be taken now as the energy crisis had blown out of proportion. "We need to inject fresh blood into the organisations. Independent boards of directors are important for pushing forward hard decisions", he said adding that neither minister nor secretary would be inducted in board of directors of state run oil and gas companies.
However, he said, the existing heads of companies would have the chance to apply for the posts again. "They can compete like all the other candidates. Let the appointments be made on merit." "I will make sure that work on the LNG import and the gas import pipelines from Iran and Turkmenistan moves quickly," he added. He also said that low BTU gas policy would be prepared.
He added that no industrial or commercial gas connection will be given for the next six months till the availability of gas. He also maintained that no gas connection would be given on political basis. "We have also decided to launch LPG distribution company by SNGPL and SSGCL jointly to end the monopoly of some companies in the country," he said, adding that those people would also be taken to task who had made OGDCL and other public institutions hostage for vested interests.
He maintained that those involved in gas theft would be exposed and action would be taken against them. He said that 85 percent petroleum products were being imported and therefore it was not possible to subsidise petroleum products at a time when country's economy was undergoing difficult time.