The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday will take up the issue of disconnection of gas to textile units as a result of failure of negotiations between All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL).
Sources told Business Recorder that after the meeting with a delegation of Aptma on December 24, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had directed Petroleum Ministry to solve the problem immediately, but there was no positive outcome of the deliberations between the millers and SNGPL Managing Director.
They said that disconnection of gas to captive power plants in textile units was affecting 23 percent of spinning and 19 percent of value-added industry, which would have negative effect on production, export and employment.
SOURCES SAID THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS FOR ECC TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE:
a) The priority of gas shutdown to CPPs may be bracketed with general industry and CNG, so that the burden of gas load shedding is shared equitably.
b) Fertiliser plants, being major consumers of gas, be directed to carry out maintenance during winter season.
According to shutdown priority list, cement is on top, followed by CPP, general industry/CNG, IPPs and Wapda on 12 months agreement, fertiliser and process industry and domestic/commercial consumers.
Sources said that disconnection of gas to CPPs has created severe problems for the industry. They expressed hope that the issue would be resolved amicably in the ECC meeting.
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