CABERRA: Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL) is reportedly endeavouring to save its system from collapse by implementing load management plan in Punjab and federal capital with gas shortfall hovering around 1500 MMCFD. Presently gas input at SNGPL system is 1500 MMCFD whereas demand is 2800 MMCFD, which implies a demand-supply gap of 1300 MMCFD.
SNGPL is implementing load management plan in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Multan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur regions.
SNGPL was supplying gas to export-oriented industry, including textile mills, yet as a consequence of fire at the Sui plant – a boiler and a 16″ diameter pipeline was damaged. The supply of 240 MMCFD was, therefore, suspended.
SNGPL management immediately suspended gas supply to Captive Power Plants (CPPs) and textile processing plants along with all other processing industries to combat a low gas pressure.
Domestic consumers across Punjab were on the streets with cooking implements protesting against low gas pressure during suspension of 240 MMCFD gas from SNGPL system through PPL pipeline.
Some consumers have installed compressors illegally at their residences to get maximum pressure. SNGPL has not yet decided to begin a crackdown against such consumers.
The sources said government has already disconnected power supply to all the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to meet requirements of domestic sector. The Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Cabinet, in its last meeting, also decided to suspend 84 MMCFD gas supply to M/s Rousch power plant due to system constraints. This gas is expected to be re-routed to textile sector which has been clamouring for gas to take advantage of the time barred grant of GSP plus status by the European Union (EU).
