ISLAMABAD: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) will face 370mmcfd shortfall, while the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) network has already started to face a short supply, and the shortage is expected to go up to 250mmcfd in winters, an official of the Petroleum Division said.

In September 2020, the gas supply at SSGC was 993mmcfd against 1,109mmcfd in the same month of 2019.

Both the gas companies are undertaking all out efforts to ensure smooth gas supply to all categories of consumers on their network, especially to high-priority domestic consumers, even during winter months.

"In SNGPL's network enhanced demand of the high-priority domestic sector is met through diversion of RLNG to domestic consumers," the official said.

During peak winter, December-January, some sectors might face curtailment, while to meet the demand of the domestic and other customers in the SSGC's network, some sectors including CNG, captive power of general industry might face gas load curtailments and zero indigenous gas to K-Electric, which would be supplied only RLNG.

The government was planning to increase the LNG import in the coming months to meet the natural gas shortages.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has already asked the government to take note of the crumbling gas sector, which is becoming a liability for the country.

If left unattended, the gas sector will become a problem for the masses and business community eroding their competitiveness, it said.

The gas sector circular debt has jumped to Rs250 billion due to lack of reforms, inbuilt inefficiencies, theft and mismanagement.

In a statement, it was said that the country would face a massive gas shortfall as the demand jumps during the winter; therefore, the government should take required steps without delay.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020