Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has received 170 mmcfd additional gas from two gasfields, including Manzalai, enabling it to avoid prevailing gas loadshedding at present. During December-February, the SNGPL system faces severe crisis of gas shortage when the demand increases manifold due to rising consumption in the domestic sector from normal load of 250 mmcfd to 750 mmcfd.
The Federal Cabinet had already approved the Gas Load Management Plan 2009-10 to be implemented from November 15 to March 15, 2010. Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the SNGPL had not yet enforced gas loadshedding plan due to additional gas supply of 170 mmcfd.
They attributed the lower demand to the mild winter so far, and said: "The SNGPL will face gas shortfall up to 750 mmcfd in case of extreme cold or rainy season. In that situation, different sectors will be facing gas loadshedding." Considering a summary on "Gas Load management Plan 2009-10," submitted by the Petroleum Ministry, the Cabinet decided in its special meeting held on November 4 that:
-- Domestic and commercial sectors would continue to get normal gas supply even during winter months without any curtailment.
-- All industrial units would go for two holidays a week on rotational basis in accordance with the pre-defined zones resulting in saving of 120 mmcfd gas for diversion to other zones.
-- The CNG sector will be subject to two gas holidays per week on a rotational basis to save 25 mmcfd gas for diversion to other zones.
-- The fertiliser sector will be encouraged to arrange alternate fuel for stock requirement.
-- SSGCL will divert 38-mmcfd gas to SNGPL for utilisation by three new IPPs - Orient, Saif and Sapphire - or rental power plants.
-- A moratorium on extension of gas to new towns/villages will be imposed till the present backlog is cleared. However, the towns/villages, located in the districts of gas producing wellheads, will be exempted from this moratorium.
When asked about the two holidays a week for industrial sector, the sources said that the SNGPL administration had not received any direction from the Federal government. They said the government would have to make a comprehensive plan after consultation with all trade bodies and chambers. "After finalising the plan, the Petroleum Ministry will forward it to the SNGPL that would enforce it," the sources added. One official in the Petroleum Ministry said that government would start implementing the gas loadshedding plan only in the event of a gas shortfall.
Three fertiliser plants, including Pak Arab, Dawood Hercules and Pak American on SNGPL, would go for annual turn around for 30 days each from the next month, resulting in 104 mmcfd gas saving that would be provided to the export-oriented sectors like textile. The sources said that during the peak winter season, the use of geysers would result in hike in gas demand. The SNGPL has developed a conical steel baffle, which when inserted in the geyser fire tube, would reduce heat losses and improve thermal efficiency from 28 to 60 percent, the sources added.
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