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Gas load shedding for domestic users from December: SNGPL

* SNGPL MD warns gas supply will be stopped for industries for 3 months if industrialists, businessmen do not cooperate

By Aamir Yasin

RAWALPINDI: Gas load shedding for domestic consumers will start in December but it may begin earlier if the temperature dropped before that, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited Managing Director Rasheed Lone said on Wednesday.

“If industrialists and the business community do not cooperate regarding gas load management, gas supply will be discontinued for industrial consumers for three months, starting from December,” he said while talking to reporters during his visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

Lone said there was a gap between the demand and supply of gas as currently the daily demand was more than 3,800 million cubic feet (MCF) and the supply was 3,000MCF.

He said the gas load management had been planned considering this gap in the supply and demand. He said the authorities wanted to provide gas to the industry, especially CNG stations, but it was not possible. To a question, Lone said Iran would provide around 1,000MCF of gas daily to Pakistan under an agreement signed between the two countries.

Earlier, while talking to RCCI officials, he said about 20 percent gas was obtained from Balochistan, 70 percent from Sindh, six percent from the NWFP and Punjab contributes only four percent to the national gas production.

Lone informed the business community that due to a deficiency at the Qadirpur Gas Field, the shortage had increased this year, adding the gap would be narrowed by installing high-power compressors at the field next year. “From next year, the country will also have liquefied natural gas in distribution network which will improve gas supply,” he said.

He said the issue of gas load management would be resolved after consultation with the business community and a dispute resolution committee would be formed to address issues of the business community.

Lone said a campaign would be launched to create awareness among the masses about the appropriate use of gas at the domestic level. He urged the RCCI to play its due role in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, RCCI President Kashif Shabbir demanded uninterrupted gas supply to industry.

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