SNGPL facing 700 mmcfd gas shortfall: MD

HASSAN ABBAS

LAHORE: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is currently facing gas shortfall of 700 mmcfd, which may reach 800 mmcfd in January, 2012. He also said that gas to the industry would not be restored till January. SNGPL Managing Director Arif Hameed said this while talking to Business Recorder.

When asked about any move on the part of SNGPL for closure of CNG stations in the months of January and February, Hameed said he is not aware of any such move. "We follow the gas allocation policy of the government," he said.

About low pressure of gas, he said low-pressure pockets change every year and we install new pipes replacing old one to bridge the gap. Low pressure was experienced mainly in the commercial and semi-commercial areas.

It is pertinent to mention here that severe gas shortages is hitting the all types of consumers and protest demonstrations against the shortages are continuing especially in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Shaikhupura and Lahore. The peoples' anger is likely to intensify in coming days as the demand and supply gap is widening day by day. The owners of industries and CNG filling stations, labourers and households all are crying for gas in the season when the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is facing about 900 million cubic feet (MMCFD) shortfall in its network.

Owing to the persisting shortages, the curtailment of gas supply to 4,000 Punjab industries is on cards. It was learnt that the gas supply to all types of industry of the province and CNG filling stations of the country would be curtailed within three days.

The Company's website, however, has not mentioned any schedule to reopen the gas supply for Industry in coming days and it is expected that the situation would further led the labourers' protests in coming days.

The company had curtailed the gas supply to general industry of Lahore, Sheikhupura and Sahiwal regions on 25th December and the gas was still not being supplied to the said industrial zone. Similarly, the general industry of Faisalabad, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Bahawalpur regions was disconnected on Thursday. Furthermore, it was learnt that the gas would be not available for all types of industry from 1st January.

In Punjab, the domestic sector is facing severe shortages of gas since the start of this winter. On Thursday, people stages protest against the shortages in various areas of Lahore including Mozang, Chungi Amar Siddhu and at Multan Road. Reportedly, the intensity of agitation was high at Faisalabad where the protesting industry workers and households blocked the roads in their areas and chanted slogans against the government. Similarly, people also staged protests in Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Wazirabad against the unavailability of gas in their areas.

On the other side, on Thursday, CNG stations in Lahore and Multan reopened at 6am and stations in Sindh opened at 9am. But the filling stations were also facing low pressure and long queues of vehicles had been witnessed at all the CNG stations in Lahore.

Leaders of All Pakistan CNG Association claimed that they would strongly protest against the conspiracies, which were being hatched to close CNG stations. They said that suspension of gas to CNG stations and 14 per cent hike in gas prices from January 1st is also a part of these conspiracies. It is expected that the transporters would also join the protests in coming days when they would find no gas for their vehicles.