RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Sui Northern Pipe Lines (SNGPL), Managing Director, Arif Hameed, said that gas supply to the fertilizer plants will be restored from April 6.

While talking to media after signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Punjab University and SNGPL for the establishment of SNGPL Chair on Gas Engineering at Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Arif said "At present SNGPL is getting 1940 mmcfd of gas and this summer, a shortfall of 350 mmcfd of gas is expected."

Arif said the SNGPL was taking action against all those involved in gas theft irrespective of their political affiliations. "We are in touch with all parties for the resolution of the problem of gas theft." He said that petroleum ministry is fully supporting the SNGPL and has directed that action should be taken against those involved in gas pilferage without any discrimination.

Arif said that SNGPL has started leakage surveys using modern equipment to detect underground leakage and these efforts have reduced line losses to 11.07 per cent in December 2011 as compared to 12.4 per cent in June 2011 and the company plans to reduce it further by June 2012.

According to MoU, SNGPL will sponsor a Chair on Gas Engineering for research work regarding identification and mitigation of internal corrosion, alternate energy sources such as Bio gas and developing innovative techniques for energy conservation. SNGPL will provide an annual grant of Rs 3.32 million to Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology on annual basis for the purpose While speaking  on the occasion Arif Hameed, appreciated the efforts being carried out by PU regarding the mitigation of internal corrosion and research in the field of alternate energy sources/fuels.

Vice-Chancellor Punjab University Dr. Mujahid Kamran said that that the basic objective of the universities was creation of new knowledge but unfortunately our leadership did not realize its importance. He said that the varsity scholars would help distil natural gas being dug out from the sources. Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology Director Prof Dr Zahoorul Hassan Rizvi, said that a technical study was conducted on mitigation of internal corrosion of steel pipeline due to carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and Bacteria in Qadirpur - Bhong segment of SNGPL gas transmission system.