21:32
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KARACHI: The policies of the government and apathy towards exploration and development in the past has resulted in a serious gas vis-à-vis electricity crises, with gas shortage in the upcoming winters expected to be around two billion cubic feet per day, said an official on Wednesday.
Asim Murtaza Khan, managing director of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), said that the gas demand supply shortfall would reach two billion cubic feet per day and upper Pakistan would be the worst hit. According to industry people, the gas demand in southern region hovers around 1,400mmcfd in winter, while Balochistan’s demand hovers around 45mmcfd in summer, which surges to around 120mmcfd in winter.
The industries of Punjab faced the worst gas shortage in the previous winter season and the business community has been quite vocal that there was no gas shortage in the country but the mismanagement and vested interests had created the demand supply gap.
Business leaders have claimed that an artificial shortage of the natural gas has been created in the country just to promote the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other imported fuels as there are huge commissions involved in imports.
The business leaders are unanimous that unaccounted for gas (UFG) is the biggest problem, which has increased to 12 percent from seven percent during the last three years.
Meanwhile, the government has recently moved a proposal for long-term gas supply to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL)-based companies from dedicated fields through an independent pipeline whose implementation will take at least two to two-and-a-half years.
An interim short-term proposal is also under consideration but is facing resistance from the ministry of water and power, given gas shortages in winter and priority of gas allocation to the power sector ahead of elections.
Asim Murtaza Khan, managing director of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), said that the gas demand supply shortfall would reach two billion cubic feet per day and upper Pakistan would be the worst hit. According to industry people, the gas demand in southern region hovers around 1,400mmcfd in winter, while Balochistan’s demand hovers around 45mmcfd in summer, which surges to around 120mmcfd in winter.
The industries of Punjab faced the worst gas shortage in the previous winter season and the business community has been quite vocal that there was no gas shortage in the country but the mismanagement and vested interests had created the demand supply gap.
Business leaders have claimed that an artificial shortage of the natural gas has been created in the country just to promote the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other imported fuels as there are huge commissions involved in imports.
The business leaders are unanimous that unaccounted for gas (UFG) is the biggest problem, which has increased to 12 percent from seven percent during the last three years.
Meanwhile, the government has recently moved a proposal for long-term gas supply to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL)-based companies from dedicated fields through an independent pipeline whose implementation will take at least two to two-and-a-half years.
An interim short-term proposal is also under consideration but is facing resistance from the ministry of water and power, given gas shortages in winter and priority of gas allocation to the power sector ahead of elections.
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