The helpless government, which is yet to formulate a policy to minimise the energy crisis in the country, has decided to ban gas connection to new skyscrapers in the country. New buildings would however, be supplied Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) instead of natural gas, in view of gas shortages and lower pressure in the distribution systems. As no significant work has been done on exploration of gas reserves in the country despite ever-increasing demands of the fuel, the present government, as a short term step, has claimed to add at least 200 Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) additional gas in the system by June 2012. Addressing a press conference here at the head office of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain said on Sunday in order to run gas-fired 650-megawatts Combine Cycle Power Plant of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) government was working on air-mix of LPG and natural gas to be supplied to the project at Bin Qasim through a direct line. LPG-Air mix/blending is an invisible application of LPG. The air -mix match that of the Natural Gas. As government was already encouraging the use of LPG in the country, all CNG stations have been allowed to sell LPG to consumers. Under new strategy, PSO has already established the first and fully operational LPG auto gas stations and conversion centers in the country. Talking about $7.5 billion Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project, the minister said that, there was no pressure from any foreign country on the issue and work on the important project was already ahead of schedule. In reply to a query, he claimed, the gas supply project from Iran would be completed by the end of 2013.
