ISLAMABAD: The Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) has announced a two-day gas load management plan, wherein it would divert additional gas to K-Electric to reduce power load shedding in the port city.
According to sources, the SSGC would halt its supply to general industries and their captive power plants (CPPs) and divert the same to KE so as to address power shortage issues in Karachi and its adjoining areas.
They said that general industries, including CPPs and CNG stations, would suffer badly due to the suspension of gas supply under the SSGC’s load management plan.
Sources said that KE had been demanding 280-300mmcfd of gas from SSGC to meet its needs for power generation, while the company was only being able to arrange a maximum of 250mmcfd gas for KE.
The average shortfall of 50-60mmcfd was causing load-shedding for the KE consumers, sources said.
It may be noted that the government had recently advised SSGC to ensure gas supply to KE, despite the fact that KE has still not cleared its liabilities of more than Rs111 billion to SSGC.
An official of SSGC, on the condition of anonymity, said that SSGC’s average gas demand from all categories of gas consumers was around 1350mmcfd for summer season and 1500mmcfd for winters.
“However, at present, the SSGC system gas has around 1,000mmcfd of gas and there is a shortfall of 300mmcfd. The CPPs are taking around 100-200mmcfd while the CNG sector is consuming 100mmcfd. This gas load management plan is a temporary one and will end on Sunday. We hope the situation will improve very soon,” he added.
According to a copy of SSGC’s letter to the industrial sector associations, “All general industries including their CPPs will remain closed for 24 hours starting from Sunday at 8:00am to Monday till 8:00am. Similarly, all CPPs of general industries will remain closed on Friday (10 July) and Saturday (11 July). Furthermore, CNG sector will remain closed on Friday i-e July 10 from 8:00am to 8:00am on Sunday i-e July 12. However, any change will be communicated well in time.”
‘NOT THE SOLUTION’
Meanwhile, All Pakistan CNG Association Chairman Ghiyas Paracha has rejected the decision to divert gas to KE, saying that this was not the solution. He said the CNG sector was already facing colossal losses owing to the ban on transport after the spread of Covid-19.
“It is deplorable that gas is being diverted to the power sector, which can manage its operation through furnace oil.”
Moreover, speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday, Power Division Minister Umar Ayub Khan confirmed that gas of 300mmcfd would be provided to KE from different sources to generate 200MW. “At present, 100-180mmcfd of gas is being supplied to Karachi, besides 100MW of electricity from the national grid.”
KE is filled with corrupt management and staff filled by PPP and MQM. KE is still the same even after 72 years.
They either bill you average or they bill you after 2 months and show maximum units and than charge the citizens at a higher rate.
KE is a mafia.
Koi mafia nahi government involve in every things . When the occasion like Ramadan party or eid festival.they all sit at the same table.
KE consumer fate to be decided by the CCP (The Competition Commission Pakistan) to issue more licenses for Karachi for generation. The new Power produciing units will be efficient, private sector companies, will purchase their input from SSG on merits.
After the NEPRA chairperson video con, KE wants more share of gas. May I suggest KE should not be provided any more gas they should buy furnace oil not KE grade but generation grade with no emissions. Let KE continue with Furnace Oil should not be pollution grade. The matter also mentioned to Gretta Thunberg to visit Pakistan and meet KE management on biggest polluter of Pakistan from Furnace Oil. Where’s AND What EPA doing Please get their emissions checked, as Ms. Thunberg likely to visit Pakistan.