The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has planned to bring up to 800 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas into the system within the next six months, which would be sufficient to overcome the current energy crisis. Official sources in the Petroleum Ministry told this correspondent that had the government developed these discovered gas reservoirs in a timely fashion, the economy of the country could be protected from huge losses.
Pakistan's current gas production is 4.2 billion cubic feet per day (BCFD), against total demand of around 6 bcfd. The government during past three years did not take any serious step to access these gas reservoirs which accounts for many local manufacturers relocating to other countries, including Bangladesh.
The important projects from where the government is planning to bring 800 mmcfd gas into the system are as follows: 186 mmcfd from Kunnar Pasaki, 160 mmcfd from Uch gas field, 30 mmcfd from Sinjhoro, 30 mmcfd gas from Rehman gas field, 30 mmcfd from Mehr, 30 mmcfd from Makori, 10 mmcfd from Nur-Bagla, 6 mmcfd from Jhakro, 15 mmcfd from Jhal Magsi, 10 mmcfd from Sajawal, 20 mmcfd from Kandkot and 120 mmcfd from Sara west.
The officials added that nearly 200 mmcfd gas would come from tight gas and shale gas, which would be dedicated to power sector or CNG sector. Moreover, from above-mentioned gas fields the country could have over 1,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) daily, which would help reduce LPG shortage as well as bring down commodity prices. Pakistan currently is producing some 1,200 tons LPG, and last month it imported 17,000 tons of LPG.
LPG price is at an all time high in the country at Rs 160-175 per kg due to heavy taxation which includes 16 percent general sales tax (GST) and 11,486 per ton Gas Infrastructure Development Surcharge (GIDS). The official stated that the country has sufficient discovered gas reservoirs to deal with the current energy/gas crisis but materialisation of these projects has, time and again, been delayed due to petty issues that, sources allege, are related to commissions and extension of contracts. The government is trying to deal with current gas shortage through the Gas Load Management Program, which according to Petroleum Ministry officials had been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders.
Furthermore, if Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) bring down the unaccounted-for-gas (UFG) to standard level of 4 percent, the country would have 250 mmcfd additional gas. Qadirpur compression project has an expected production of 100 mmscfd gas, Bahu field located 75 km north-east of Multan, Punjab, has an expected production of 24 mmscfd (due to commence production in 2010, however delayed reportedly till June 2012), while Dhakhni expansion project is expected to inject 12 mmscfd gas to the national utilities.
Sinjhoro development project is located in the Sanghar district, Sindh province, and is a joint venture with OGDC (76 percent), OPI (19 percent) and GHPL (5 percent), with OGDC serving as the operator. The projected additional production at this facility upon completion is 2,940 bbls per day of oil, 25 mmcfd per day of gas and 224 tons per day of LPG.
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