KARACHI: Masroor Khan, Chairman, Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (OGRA) has explained that the government machinery is fully aware of the gas shortage issues being faced by the industrialists and the domestic consumers; and, the issues will be addressed through setting up 2 new LNG Terminals and increased number of LNG cargoes in the years to come.
Speaking at a consultative meeting on the burning issue of ever-increasing gas shortages for industry & end-users held at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he added that he is addressing all the 15 to 20 LNG associations and alliances of the country through the apex platform of FPCCI; and, they can be rest assured that their voice is being heard.
Muhammad Arif, Member Gas, OGRA, discussed the grave issues of safety and irregularities at the end of smaller retailers in the LNG & LPG distribution and sales network across the length and breadth of Pakistan.
He admitted that it will take some time to implement the standards at the small shops selling gas for the domestic and small-scale commercial consumption. He added that OGRA is working towards a system where every gas cylinder in the country will have a National Serial Number for safety, standardization, certification, recertification and tracking.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, President FPCCI, expressed his astonishment at the purchase of LNG at a rate of $30.6 per MMBTU; maintaining that this rate will destroy both fuel supply safety and foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan.
He said that gas supply shortages and disruptions has become an issue of survivability and sustainability for the industry of Pakistan – the backbone of precious foreign exchange earning sectors of the economy; as both export-oriented and the rest are interlinked and intertwined in a way that production cycles in either affects the other.
He added that, in order to ensure continuation of production and employment opportunities in the country, the Government of Pakistan must devise a reliable and efficient mechanism to provide gas to export and non-export industries 24/7.
FPCCI Chief also reiterated his proposal that private LNG import licenses must be issued to bridge the incrementally yawning demand-supply gap. Hanif Lakhany, VP FPCCI, said that he is concerned at the lower imports of LNG this year and that too at a very inflated rate; which in turn, is bound to diminish the whatever industrial sector growth is left.
Lakhany explained the plight of textile industry and the real-world impediments that export-oriented sector are facing due to insufficient and expensive gas supplies. He added that the government is risking the sustenance of millions of workers employed in the sector and serious threats to the timely completion of export orders.
Muhammad Ali Haider, Convener of FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on LNG, said that domestic consumers; who buy 1 – 2 KGs of LPG at a time; can not afford that too at a rate of Rs. 202.57/kg. Additionally, only 28 percent households in Pakistan get piped natural gas and that is also not available during the testing winters.
Notably, the high-profile meeting was attended by the senior representatives of giants of the industry; including, Parco Refinery, Byco Refinery, PSO, Brushane Gas, Hascol, SSGC, Plant Operators of Port Qasim and several other private-sector industry players.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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