SSGC wants industries to reduce gas consumption

KARACHI: Factories and captive power plants in Sindh and Balochistan would shut down from Wednesday if consumption was not immediately reduced, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) warned on Tuesday.

It said supply from some of the major fields had reduced considerably. Total supply of gas that SSGC buys from petroleum exploration companies has dropped 19 percent to 999 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in October from 1197 MMCFD in the same month of last year, said Azeem Siddiqui, SSGC deputy managing director, at a press conference.

“Demand stands at 1200 MMCFD,” he said. “And recent cut in supply from some of the fields has worsened the situation. The industry must immediately reduce consumption by 20 percent. Otherwise no factory would be able to run captive power plants.”
The quantity of gas that has to be kept in the transmission lines at all times has shrunk to 800 MMCFD. “If this line-pack goes below 750 MMCFD, then factories, fertiliser plants and CNG stations will stop functioning as they won’t get the required gas pressure.”

A problem at Kadanwari gas purification plant, which takes gas from three fields for removing impurities, has caused additional shortage of 70 MMCFD. “Besides this, Badin field is giving us just 143 MMCFD,” he said. “Until last year, we used to receive 210 MMCFD from this field.”

Siddiqui asked industrial and commercial consumers to brace themselves for tough days as Zamzama field, which supplies 204 MMCFD, will be closed from October 27 to November 4 for annual maintenance of plant and equipment.

“Then from November 6, Bhit field, which supplies 320 MMCFD, will be closed for maintenance,” he said. “We will ensure that domestic consumers don’t have any problem, but everyone else including KESC will have to bear the burden.”

Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) will not get more than 80 MMCFD, much less than the current supply of 120 MMCFD, he said. “We can’t do anything about it. It is beyond our control.”

Siddiqui said that consumption was increasing by 10 percent annually with addition of new connections. “SSGC has stopped supplying gas to CNG stations but if someone builds a house, we cannot deny connection.” SSGC expects the gas supply-demand to improve in 2011, he said.