New gas schedule for Sindh CNG stations: loadshedding to be reduced to two days a week: SSGC MD

Managing Director (MD) Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Zaheer Siddiqui, on Friday announced that gas load shedding for CNG stations in Sindh will be reduced to 2 days a week. At present the load shedding is being carried out for three days a week in the province, he said, adding that the enforcement of new schedule will start from April 21.
He was chief guest on behest of Federal Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, at a programme "Revival of CNG Industry," which All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Sindh Zone had organised at a hotel. The minister could not attend the event for some reasons.
He said that the demand of natural gas had increased manifolds due to water and room heating by the consumers in winter season. Sui Southern Gas Company had experienced a shortfall of 350-400 mmcfd in meeting the demand of gas that resulted due to severely low temperatures during the last months, he said.
The temperature went down to very low in Balochistan, leading to excessive demand of gas and SSGC had to shut down gas supply to CNG stations in the province during winter season.
Chairman APCNGA (Sindh Zone), Shabbir Sulaiman Jee, on this occasion said it's a good initiative of the minister for the revival of CNG industry. He said the minister has been co-operating with us in resolving the issues of the industry. "Unfortunately he could not attend this programme due to a death in his family and he returned form Pindi airport to share grief with the family," he informed.
While giving a multimedia presentation he said Sindh province is producing 72 percent of total gas produced in the country but the stations in Sindh, consume only 2.5 percent of total gas production.
CNG sector is just consuming 7 percent out of total gas produced in the country and rest of 93 percent gas is being consumed in different sectors.
He said Pakistan's CNG industry is ranked No-1 in world by investing $1.85 billion, and it pays in billions on account of taxes to national exchequer. It has also played vital role in reducing inflation, and saved Rs181 billions in oil import bills besides reducing trade deficit of the country.
The Central Chairman APCNGA, Pervez Khatak, appreciated the announcement made by MD SSGC regarding curtailing the gas load shedding from 3 days to 2 days in a week. He hopped that this decision will give relief to public from staying at long queues in front of CNG stations.
He said that on the basis of the article 158 of the constitution, the Sindh High Court issued an order that prohibits closure of CNG stations in Sindh, as being the gas producing Province it has first priority on gas it produces over other provinces.
President Karachi Transport Ittehad, Irshad Hussain Bokhari on the occasion said that one day a week load shedding schedule would reduce miseries of masses as they would get rid of long queues at CNC stations, he also thanked the minister and MD SSGC for this decision.
"It is a good news for thousands of transporters and citizens who have invested billions of rupees in conversion of some 4 million vehicles into CNG during last few years,' he said.