Govt blames rising domestic demand, prolonged winter as gas crisis intensifies

• The gas shortage in South is approximately 100 to 150mmcf, informed the SAPM.
• The shortage could only be met with the injection of LNG into the system, says Babar.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Affairs Nadeem Babar has blamed the rising gas demand and extended winter spell behind the ongoing gas shortfall in the country.

“Both SSGC [Sui Southern Gas Company] and SNGPL [Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited] are facing two completely different situation. In the South, the main issue arise due to Sindh position that as per Article 158 of the constitution the province would not take LNG and would only run on domestic gas,” said Babar, while talking to local media.

The SAPM said that the demand for natural gas is rising, which leads to a shortfall in winter as demand for heating increase. “The domestic demand has been rising, whereas the supply is unable to meet the gap,” he said.

The gas shortage in South is approximately 100 to 150mmcf, informed SAPM. He said that the ministry is engaged with the Sindh government to give them the right-of-way.

Talking about the gas crisis in North, Nadeem said that due to severe winter this year the SNGPL is giving 1225mmcf of gas to the domestic sector, as compared to 831mmcf gas provided on average last winter. “We have brought in LNG to cater the demand, however the extension of winter spell has lead to 50 percent increase in domestic demand as compared to last year,” SAPM said.

The demand in South is increasing rapidly, whereas the domestic supply of gas is declining by seven percent annually, the gap created is creating the shortage said the SAPM. “This shortage could only be met with LNG, the new explorations that we are conducting would pluck this gap in coming two, three years, but for time being we need to inject LNG into the system,” he said.

The gas shortfall has affected not only the supply to domestic consumers but also to the industry and compressed natural gas (CNG) sector for the past several days. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the government has directed the authorities concerned to ensure gas supply to households even at the cost of the CNG sector.