Parliamentary panel told: Sui needs higher investment

WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was informed on Monday that gas production continues to decline from the Sui Field and its deposits would be available till 2025.

Senator Fateh Muhammad Hassani convened the meeting of the sub-committee of Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources. The meeting was briefed on a five-year progress pertaining to a survey of various districts of Balochistan to discover minerals and petroleum-related products as well as on allocation of funds and its utilisation.

The management of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) informed the sub-committee that expenditure on the Sui Field is enormous and the PPL has devised various strategies to curtail the expenditures but after eight years, the gas would not be available at economical rates.

It has been reported that the gas production continues to decline from the Sui Field, coming down from around 900MMCFD a decade ago to an average of 430MMCFD as of March 2016. The operator, PPL, wants an extended programme for deep drilling with a higher investments to beef up production or at least sustain the existing supply. The PPL has been facing difficulties in hitting large finds. Around 51 percent of the gas it produces comes from Sui Field that had been discovered in the 1950s.

Senator Baz Muhammad Khan argued that the free supply of gas from the Sui Field to Balochistan people is their first right.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi responded that Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is ready for free supply of gas if the federal or provincial government pays for it to the SSGC.

The minister further disclosed that Rs20 million worth of gas was stolen at Karak with the support of local district management and police. The SSGC staff disconnected gas connections but they were again restored with the help of local police and district management, he added.

Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel contended that the gas in Karak (KP) was stolen only in connivance with employees of gas department. He said if district management was involved then they should not be taken to task.

The convener of the committee directed chief secretary to appear before the committee with complete details about gas theft incidents in Karak.

Senator Baz Muhammad Khan suggested that the title of blocks in Balochistan should be in the name of places where deposits of minerals are found.