ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) on Thursday decided that gas supply to the CNG sector will be curtailed during the winter months.
During a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, it was noted that the enhanced demand of domestic consumers will be met through savings from captive power generation.
“A prudent pressure management plan will also be developed to ensure a stable supply of gas to the consumers,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning read.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar had told Parliament that supply of gas will be ensured for domestic consumers during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours amid the expected gas shortfall in the country in winter.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Division presented the projected natural gas supply and demand position in the country for winter.
During the meeting, it presented a detailed impact analysis of different policy options for the management of gas demand during winter 2021-22. It is expected that industrial activity will be a focus in the gas management plans, especially the export industry.
The CCoE approved the demand side of the proposals submitted by the Petroleum Division and noted that the committee will consider the supply side proposals in the next meeting.
According to the statement, the CCoE also considered the summary presented by the Maritime Affairs Division on the construction of oil storage at the oil installation area in Karachi’s Keamari.
“The meeting was informed that insufficient storage infrastructure at the ports creates a bottleneck in the supply chain and results in increased costs,” it read.
Furthermore, the CCoE formed a sub-committee under SAPM on CPEC Khalid Mansoor including Member Energy Planning Commission, Secretary Petroleum, and Secretary Power.
The sub-committee will submit its proposals to the CCoE within two weeks.
The CCoE also reviewed the monthly report submitted by the Power Division on the out of merit power plant operations due to network constraints.
Per the statement, the committee was assured that a constraint removal plan for the encountered issues is already under implementation.
