LAHORE
The gas cuts announced by Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) because of technical problems at the Qadirpur and Zamzama gas fields will have adverse effects on the CNG sectors and the industries, a report by Pakistan Today revealed.
Both these fields were providing 600 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas but the supply will be reduced to just 275 mmcf for three days per week beginning from Monday. Gas supply to industries and CNG stations in Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Bhawalpure, Gujranwala and all other cities will be closed. And the domestic users would get supply at a decreased pressure.
CNG stakeholders said that protests will be held against the decision. All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Central Chairman Junaid Ismael Mukda said that the SNGPL had announced the gas suspension without taking the CNG sector into confidence.
APCNGA Supreme Council Chairman Ghayas Abdullah Paracha said CNG sector consumed only five percent of gas produced in the country, where million of people got benefited from cheap gas but the government had not taken this into consideration. APCNGA has also called central executive council meeting on November 26 to discuss the situation.
Cutting of gas supply to power plants would also result in power outages. Power plants including Kot Adu and others would be affected from the gas closure and ultimately the decrease in production would cause electricity outages.
Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Public Relations Director General Shafqat Jalil hoped that the situation could be overcome. He said SNGPL had promised to provide gas to all power plants. “It totally depends upon the situation,” he said adding PEPCO would try its best to control the electricity cuts.
Three days a week gas cuts to destroy industry
