LAHORE – The more you invest, better the business runs, but this notion proved wrong in the CNG sector, as CNG stations having small compressors are working perfectly in the city while stations having big compressors face difficulty in serving customers, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Industry stakeholders said that due to very low gas pressure, a majority of CNG stations have stopped sales but stations having small compressors were still doing business.
Some of the CNG stations in the Johar Town, College Road and Allama Iqbal Town remained opened while many other stations were closed owing to low gas pressure.
A CNG station manager said that stations having 10 PSI (pound per square inch) compressors were closed while stations with 1 PSI were working normally.
He said that cost of the 1 PSI compressor CNG station was Rs 10 million while 10 PSI compressor stations could be bought for Rs 20 million. “I have invested Rs 20 million with a hope that my CNG station will serve better but in these days it was closed while my neighbouring station having a small compressor and less investment is serving people,
” a Peco Road CNG station owner Muhammad Sadiq said adding that big compressor gave good gas quality and quantity but under such circumstances people needed gas irrespective of quantity.
There were long queues of vehicles outside CNG stations where gas was available. “Under severe circumstances when CNG is not available, there is nothing wrong in getting gas from small stations. At least I am getting gas,” said motorist Habib Ahmed.
All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Member Hassan Shah said that consumers were facing huge problems in getting gas. He said that despite big investments, a lot of CNG stations were closed. Hassan said that when Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) officials lower gas pressure from Town Base Stations (TBS) and Sales Meter Stations (SMS), then only stations having small compressors worked. He said that the SNGPL should follow decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which said that stations would be provided gas at least five days a week. Hassan said that contrary to the decision of the ECC, CNG stations were not given gas during day time.
“Around 2.5 million motorists are suffering due to closure of CNG stations and the government is silently watching miseries of people,” Hassan said adding that it was not an issue of 2,000 CNG stations. He said that gas was closed from 7am and restored at 10pm. The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) secretary said that the textile industry was getting only 50 percent gas. “We are provided gas only for three and a half days,” he complained.
Around 2.5 million motorists are suffering due to closure of CNG stations and the government is a silent spectator to people’s miseries
I have invested Rs 20 million with the hope that my CNG station will serve better but it is closed while my neighbouring station with a small compressor and less investment is in business
