Company's Profile: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) is Pakistan's premier natural gas utility engaged in the transmission and distribution of gas in the franchise areas of Sindh and Balochistan. The Company operates more than 3,320 km high-pressure transmission and 36,785 km distribution network extending across the two southern provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
Commencing in 1954 as Sui Gas Transmission Company (SGTC), the Company today caters to over 2.2 million customers comprising 3,863 industrial units including several large power plants and 24,156 commercial customers in 33 districts, 120 tehsils and 1,920 villages across Sindh and Balochistan. SSGC purchases gas in bulk from about a dozen Exploration and Production (E&P) Companies operating on the left and right banks of the Indus River, for distribution in its franchise areas. Among the E&P companies are many reputable local and international organizations such as Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), ENI Pakistan, BHP Petroleum, BP Pakistan, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Mari Gas and OMV (Pak) Exploration.
TECHNOLOGY WITH A HUMAN FACE
With each passing year, SSGC has consolidated its position as an IT-enabled utility through continuous induction of best business practices and state-of-the-art technologies. This IT-enablement has, in turn, helped to serve the customers better. SSGC's technology-enabled business model has become a utility industry benchmark in Pakistan.
Thanks to its pioneering work in IT, SSGC is recognised as the leading technology enabled company in the region by IBM, Oracle Corporation and SPL, the last two having acknowledged us as a centre of excellence for Oracle and SPL. By adopting Oracle ERP applications, the Company has armed itself with scalable tools it needs to manage its growth efficiently.
An integrated Geographical Information System (GIS) uses satellite data at 2.5 meters resolution to produce seamlessly integrated mapping of the pipeline network. GIS helps in better routing, maintenance, risk assessment, emergency response and terrain detection as well.
METER MANUFACTURING PLANT
Established in 1975 in the premises of SSGC's Head Office, under license of Itron (formerly Actaris)-France in Karachi, the Meter Manufacturing Plant manufactures more than 750,000 meters to its own requirements as well as that of SNGPL. The Meter Plant is giving special attention to the development of Pakistan specific V-3 meters which is a new version of G-4 meters set to replace the existing G-4 meters. Plans are afoot to start the production of ACD G-1.6 gas meters which will replace the existing G-1.6 gas meters. In order to increase the production of gas meters and to achieve maximum accuracy of calibration of gas meters the replacement of old calibration machines is in progress which will be completed within next 2-3 years.
CUSTOMER-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION
"Service with a Smile" is the company's motto, and reflects its commitment towards providing its customers first-class service through more than 20 Customer Facilitation Centers (CFCs), state-of-the-art Contact (Call) Centers and an Emergency Helpline 1199. In addition, the Company has facilitated its burgeoning customer base with myriad bill payment options such as through internet, SMS, credit and debit cards, NADRA kiosks, ATM machines, PSO fuel stations, post offices and Easypaisa facility.
Through regular advertisements in the print and electronic media, SSGC is also constantly creating awareness among its customers with regards to safe and efficient use of natural gas in order to reduce wastage and manage greater control over their gas bills.
Nearly 3,863 industrial customers buy natural gas from SSGC in its franchise areas of Sindh and Balochistan. These include 23 power stations, 4 cement plants, Pakistan Steel Mills complex, CNG stations and other industries. Many industrial customers use natural gas for captive power generation as well as to meet their process needs. The number of commercial customers currently exceeds 24,156 and the list is growing. Commercial customers include restaurants, bakeries and other small businesses. Of the nearly 2.2 million domestic customers, nearly 1.5 million are located in Karachi and the remaining in the rest of Sindh and Balochistan.
DISTRIBUTING GAS AND PROMOTING
INDIGENIZATION THROUGH LPG-AIR MIX PLANTS
On the directives of the Government of Pakistan, SSGC has embarked on an elaborate plan to install LPG-Air Mix plants in its franchise areas of Sindh and Balochistan to make Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) available to far-flung areas where the distribution through conventional pipeline network is not possible. In this regard, SSGC has provided all necessary support and assistance for the required design, timely inspection/test and manufacturing of LPG storage tanks on a fast track basis for all current projects of LPG-Air Mix Plant (SNG) in Noshki, Surab and Kot Ghulam Mohammad through an Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) licensed /approved manufacturer. More such plants will be commissioned in the next one year in remote regions of Sindh and Balochistan.
HSE-CONSCIOUS COMPANY
Having successfully achieved an accredited certification for ISO-14001:2004 and OHSAS-18001:2007 standards, SSGC is now moving towards ensuring comprehensive implementation of integrated HSE Management system. The Company has always complied with National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) and all other National safety and environmental Legislations.
PROMOTING COGENERATION TO CONSERVE ENERGY
Pursuing the policy of Government of Pakistan for co-generation in Captive Power Plants, the Company launched its Technical Advisory Services (TAS) several years ago to facilitate its captive power customers, in achieving high level of efficiency through use of energy efficient systems. Substantial savings in gas consumption have been achieved by adopting co-generation and combined cycle system in new captive power plants.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The Human Resources Department at SSGC has a mandate to recruit, retain and develop the best team which effectively supports the strategic objectives of SSGC and provide human resource services and training programs that focus on consistently meeting the standards of professional excellence and effectiveness. The HR in SSGC plays an important role in organizational development, change management and also ensures that critical human resources issues area identified and addressed adequately. The Department aims to compensate every employee by providing fair and competitive remuneration for work performed.
The HR Department runs SSGC's primary training and development institution called Gas Training Institute (GTI) that offers in-house training to executives and subordinate staff in a variety of management and technical disciplines.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
As a responsible corporate citizen, SSGC undertakes need assessment throughout its franchise areas, building and supporting education, health, environment and community service projects. To ensure maximum contribution and sustainability of our initiatives, every effort is made to involve local governments, communities and civil society, organizations in planning and implementation. SSGC's small yet highly competent CSR team takes the lead in a number of projects while on others work cheek in jowl with the Company's Civil Works Department in assessing and monitoring impact and ensuring timely delivery of required services and targeted outcomes.
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
SSGC has focused itself on gaining competitive advantage through an increasing gas supply portfolio, including planned LNG supplies, application of energy-efficient environmentally friendly gas usage, and the induction of best business practices and state-of-the-art technologies in all aspects of its operations. By taking proactive steps with a sharp eye on the future, the Company is well placed to meet growing challenges of tomorrow.
(The writer is Managing Director, SSGCL.)