The petroleum ministry has imposed a 10 percent surcharge on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices, effective February 1. It said the government is planning to bring CNG prices at par with the petrol and in this connection it is taking necessary steps that needs legislation.
The secretary petroleum ministry said that the ministry would issue a notification in this regard on late Thursday night and has sent a summary to the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet for equalising the price of CNG and petrol. Ijaz told Business Recorder that the purpose of this decision is to reduce the use of CNG. After this decision, CNG prices in zone one comprising Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Balochistan and Potohar region would increase by Rs 0.72 per kg. While in zone two comprising Punjab and Sindh the prices would move up by Rs 0.38 per kg.
In zone one gas price for CNG sector would increase by Rs 14.70 per Million British Thermal Unit (mmbtu) and in zone two by Rs 7.9 per mmbtu. It indicates that in zone one for a vehicle using 10-kg CNG cylinder it would become Rs 7.2 and in zone two Rs 3.8.
At present in KP, Balochistan and Potohar region CNG is selling at Rs 74.34 per kg and in Sindh and Punjab (Excluding Potohar Region) at Rs 69.62 per kg that would now be available at Rs 75.06 per kg in zone one and Rs 70 per kg in zone two.
Earlier, briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources, he said the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is not possible until May-end, as the companies awarded capacity allocation were unable to find individual buyers for LNG being costlier. He said LNG import plan has been delayed by one year and in 2013 about 300-400 million cubic feet per day would be imported.