Gas supply to textile industry: SNGPL once again defies presidential directions

Spokesman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) said on Thursday that the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has once again defied the orders of the President. MD SNGPL had assured the President that Industry will be supplied gas for 5-day a week from March and onwards. Poor management by SNGPL has resulted in a loss to textile industry of $1 billion potential exports and rendered millions of workers jobless.
APTMA spokesman has lamented that SNGPL was adamant on destroying the textile industry by curtailing gas supply again and again without any reason. APTMA spokesman said that SNGPL first flouted the decision of ECC for 5-day gas supply to textile industry and then again disregarded the instruction of the Prime Minister to implement the ECC decision.
Subsequently the President taking notice of serious mismanagement called a meeting of industry stakeholders where MD SNGPL assured the President of 5-day gas supply to industry. However, all such tall claims proved wrong, as the SNGPL has slashed gas supply frequency to 3.5 days a week. Presidency once again taking notice of the situation called MD SNGPL and directed him to ensure gas supply to the textile industry on priority in line with 5/2 days supply formula. But in spite of above instructions, said APTMA spokesman, the MD SNGPL has recently submitted a proposal for providing 3-day gas supply, while putting it off for 4 days in a week for textile industry. It is pertinent to note that SNGPL has 10 percent line losses, which are equal to 200 MMCFD, again a sign of gross mismanagement.
SNGPL is giving gas to IPPs, which have no contract after 30th June 2011 and also supplying additional 80 MMCFD gas to fertiliser plants, which is not part of the contracts. The APTMA spokesman has urged the government to intervene and ensure uninterrupted gas supply, enabling the industry in meeting record target of $14 billion export this year.