Disconnects 121 illegal connections: SSGC countering gas theft incidences

KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company has been fighting the menace of gas theft for the past couple of years. Ever since the inception of its Counter Gas Theft Operations (CGTO) Department, the Company has been successful in apprehending gas thieves and eventually getting them convicted allowing the Company to recover the amount of the gas stolen to some extent.

With the increasing use of gas compressors and residents of the Company’s franchise provinces resorting to illegal methods of obtaining natural gas from the Company’s pipeline, the CGTO and Customer Relations Department (CRD) teams have increased their raids so that this menace can be nib in the bud.

Just on Thursday, the CGTO team along with SSGC Police and Recovery Department raided “Mashallah Banquet” in Surjani Town, Karachi, where a gas thief was apprehended for stealing gas directly through the Company’s main service line having a connected load of 200cft/hr. The illegal gas connection was cut on the spot and claims have been raised against the culprit.

Recently, in Karachi region, the CRD survey team confirmed theft of gas at Liaquatabad C1 area, where the residents were illegally obtaining gas via extensions from the Company’s distribution line. 64 houses were found to be involved in this incident, and their gas connections were cut on the spot.

In another raid at Jamia Milya, Malir, the CRD team found 51 houses involved in gas theft via rubber pipes. All illegal connections were disconnected on the spot. The total gas stolen in both of the aforementioned cases amounts to 110,400 cm per year (3,450,000 in rupee terms).

Meanwhile, in Larkana, 6 houses were found to be involved in overhead and underground gas theft. Rubber pipes and clamps used in this incident were removed at the spot and claims will be raised against the gas thieves.

The Company will continue to increase their efforts to fight against the incidences of gas theft until this evil is rooted out from the society.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024