ISLAMABAD: A fact-finding committee constituted on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan to probe recent gas crisis has forwarded its report to PM Office and will present the game plan and the role of furnace oil lobby in the crisis.
Sources privy to the development told Profit that inquiry committee headed by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Chairperson Uzma Adil khan has forwarded the committee’s findings and recommendations to the PM. They said that the report mentioned in detail the game plan of furnace oil lobby and fixed the responsibility.
The inquiry committee’s report also contains recommendations, said sources.
Sharing details of the inquiry committee’s report, sources said that gas crisis occurred because of the active lobby in furnace oil production, import and sale, while the agreed quantity of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was not imported to the country on time. Similarly, oil refineries have not improved their production capacity despite the collection of 7 per cent duty.
They said that Minister for Petroleum Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan will present the report to the premier on Monday and in the light of inquiry committee’s report, action against responsible will be taken.
Sources also said that due to an alleged connivance of oil refineries, furnace oil lobby and power division, Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) was stopped to import agreed cargos of LNG in the month of December despite expected shortage of gas during the winter season, adding that the PLL will be able to supply two cargos of LNG instead of six to the country during December.
They also said that furnace oil lobby has secured the sale of furnace oil from December to February apparently owing to their influence in the ministry of energy. Due to less import of LNG, the country will face Rs3 billion is losses, said sources.
According to documents, Pakistan has faced Rs12 billion in losses during the last six months owing to lack of agreed import of LNG to the country.
Sources in the petroleum division said that while there was a decrease in LNG import, 150,000 tonnes of furnace oil was imported. They said that circular debt was increasing and power production with furnace oil sources will cost at Rs3.65 per unit additionally. They further said that PLL was importing LNG at low rates while PSO was supplying LNG at high rates.
