All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Gohar Ejaz has congratulated Dr Asim Hussain on assuming the position of Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources.
He has expressed hope that the ministry, under the guidance of Dr Asim Hussain, would resolve the energy crisis, addressing in particular issues related to shortage, mismanagement and utilisation of natural gas as a source for powering industry in the larger interest of the country. APTMA chairman said in his facilitation message that the textile industry was a major victim of energy crisis.
The suspension of gas supply by the SNGPL network for over three days a week has nearly halved overall production capacity, which has plummeted by 43 percent. He stressed that APTMA assured President Asif Ali Zardari during its annual dinner on February 11, 2011 that exports will touch $14 billion. He pointed out, however, that power cuts were a major stumbling block in meeting the pledged target.
According to him, the textile industry advocates an appropriate energy mix at an affordable rate alongside a reliable and transparent distribution system as well as a reevaluation of priorities in the energy policy.
Furthermore, he stressed, the textile industry also seeks generation of 6,000 MW of electricity in three years through hydroelectric, coal and gas sources under a medium term energy policy as well as the removal of subsidies without delay.
APTMA chairman also called on the federal minister to ensure the import of 1,000 MMCFD of LNG Gas to meet the shortfall in supply and demanded gas distribution through the SNGPL and SSGC network on the basis of weighted average. This will increase consumer cost by 20 percent but will end shortage that puts pressure on the overstretched SNGPL network.
He expressed hope that the federal petroleum minister would contract an LNG ship to boost gas supply in the system before the onset of winter as a six month project and stressed upon the need to construct a permanent LNG terminal in a single year.
