Petroleum Ministry admits: gas exploration has come to standstill after 18th Amendment

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources here on Monday admitted that the passage of 18th Amendment brought the entire oil and gas exploration activities in the country to standstill, hence increasing reliance on imports of energy and its price keep changing with each passing day.
"There are issues with the provinces which are being sorted out, however, exploration activities in the country has come to stand still owing to changes in oil and gas sector's policy," Shahab Alam, Director General Gas, Ministry of Petroleum, informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Textile Industry here on Monday.
The committee met here at Parliament House with Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari MNA in the chair to discuss the availability of gas for the textile sector in the upcoming winter season. Regarding the issue of gas shortage being faced by the textile sector, DG SNGPL Chaudhry Masood Ahmed informed the committee that gas availability in the system was 1865 MMCFD and demand was 2484 MMCFD, which indicated a shortfall of 624 MMCFD. The government has committed to the power sector to provide 207 MMCFD gas but at present only 120 MMCFD is being provided to power sector due to the shortage, he added.
He informed that first the Annual Turn Around (ATA) of Zam Zama Gas Filed was to be completed from July 25 to September 2 and after the ATA 33 MMCFD shortfall will be left in the system. This shortfall will be filled by reduction in gas allocation to power sector. Similarly, another ATA at one of the major filed would be completed from August 21 to August 30, which will result in shortfall of 190 MMCFD and concerned authorities would try their level best to save industries from its negative impact.
The SNGPL official disclosed that Qadirpur Gasfiled would also undergo ATA from September 1 to 8 and there would be 400 MMCFD huge gas shortfall due to this ATA, hence there would be no gas availability for power sector and industrial sector. He also informed that during Sehri and Iftari timings, additional load of 225 to 230 MMCFD emerges in the system which led to reduction in gas pressure for the industrial and residential consumers.
Deputy General Manager SSGCL informed the committee that despite sufficient gas production, Sindh consumers were facing closure of industrial units and CNG stations for one day. MNA Rashid Godil and Manwar Lal MNA raised the issue of Qadirpur gas field being managed by SNGPL, saying that the entire workforce is being recruited from Punjab, despite the fact that gas filed is located in Sindh province.
Godil said that if Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was exempted from gas load management than why Sindh province was facing load management after the 18th amendment. Director General Gas, Ministry of Petroleum, failed to satisfy the members on the issue as to why Sindh is being subjected to gas load management. The Committee took serious notice of the matter and decided to invite Secretary Petroleum to explain the policy issues raised by the members.
Textile sector representatives informed the committee that they were unable to take orders from the international buyers as there was no power and gas for the textile units to produce the desired amount of cloth. Shortages of gas and power have badly impacted the working of garments and processing industries and the committee demanded that textile sector should be provided gas and power seven days a week. It was decided that five members committee will visit Karachi Textile City.