ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting discussed the present status of production, import, and supply of natural gas in the country and recommended to the concerned departments to improve gas supply and demand through short-term and long-term policy interventions aimed at various levels.
The meeting was held in P-Block Secretariat to discuss, “Pakistan Natural Gas: Policy Issues and Way Forward” prepared by Integrated Energy Planning (IEP), Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan and representatives of different energy sector organisations including the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Directorate General of Gas, Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL), Interstate Gas System (ISGS), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), and the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC).
An overview of the present status of production, import, and supply of natural gas in the country was discussed, followed by recommendations to improve the gas supply and demand through short-term and long-term policy interventions aimed at different levels.
To meet the shortfall, the government decided to import LNG in 2015. Initially, 282 MMCFD of LNG was imported in 2016, and this has increased aggressively over the years, reaching 1,162 MMCFD by 2021. To meet the country’s total gas demand, a net supply of 3548 MMCFD by 2030 would be needed, out of which, 1,900 MMCFD will be met through LNG imports. The peak demand forecast is based on gas consumption in the winter season (with the highest peak in January).
It was briefed that over the years, production of natural gas has declined to 3,505 MMCF in 2021 compared to 4,063 MMCFD in 2010. Due to depleting local gas resources, the balance recoverable reserves reached the level of 20,951 billion cubic feet (Cft) in 2021. The depletion trend projects that natural gas production will shrink to 2,306 MMCFD by 2030. The demand kept growing at a consistent pace although the government banned new connections in 2011 except residential/special commercial (roti tandoor) connections. The growth in the residential connection was not prevented until December 2021.
The committee discussed the domestic gas consumption for cooking purposes remained constant at 20,000 MMCFt per month however, this consumption increased to its peak in January up to 51,600 MMCFt. In January, space heating demand was 24,631 MMCFt and for water heating, it was 6,271 MMCFt, which increases the demand for gas in the domestic sector.
A proposed mechanism for the demand-side management of gas was also discussed including the substitution of natural gas in the domestic sector with electricity. To reduce the demand for gas in the domestic sector, gas prices can be rationalised where gas and electricity prices come to parity. This will encourage gas consumers to use electricity for space and water heating in the winter. Substitution to electric appliances for space and water heating can save yearly an estimated 74,736 million CFt in total. As a result, 6,778 gigawatt hours (GWh) of least-cost electric power can be generated from gas.
Khurram Dastagir Khan said that increased utilisation of natural gas in the power sector could drastically reduce the electricity tariff.
It was highlighted that the existing long-term contracts with Qatar Gas include a clause for contract revision in 2026, which also included a revision of the price cap and the supplier could demand an increase in the LNG delivered cost or just walk away from the contract. Therefore, Pakistan should expedite the process of entering into fresh long-term LNG import contracts. The meeting discussed the improvement in the LNG import infrastructure including expansion in the LNG terminal and regasification capacity, the possibility of imported gas storage in exhausted gas wellheads, and the development of a North-South Gas pipeline. The stakeholders suggested that at present, the development of gas storage infrastructure is not financially viable for the country, instead option of trading LNG at the lowest spot market rates could be considered, which is globally becoming a popular concept.
It was then suggested that instead of opting for an expensive subsurface (depleted reservoirs) gas storage option, gas storage over the surface (salt caverns) could be considered which has lower cost implications. Therefore, a feasibility study may be conducted to identify the cost and areas for such storage. On natural gas exploration and production (E&P) activities, it was discussed that the appropriate incentives including wellhead prices comparable with regional countries could be offered.
It was highlighted by Ahsan Iqbal, that the development of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline was also discussed as a potential gas supply source for the country.
The committee also discussed the possible gas pricing mechanism that could be developed. The consumer prices which are supposed to be revised biannually, could not be revised timely leading to the accumulation of a tariff differential of Rs577 billion till June 2022. The RLNG price is monthly determined and notified by the OGRA, unlike indigenous gas consumer pricing where even biannual revisions could not be made. The entire gas pricing is operating on cross-subsidy particularly to protect residential consumers, therefore, there has been no full cost recovery from cross-subsidised consumers.
The existing distortion in natural gas tariff could be eliminated and the tariff could be rationalized besides abolishing the cross-subsidy mechanism and replacing the same with a budgeted subsidy to protect the low-end / lifeline gas consumers. It was also discussed that the cost-reflective pricing of the gas sector will be a key decision to develop a sustainable natural gas supply chain in the country.
Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the need for energy security in which gas was a critical component. He expressed the need to educate people about the difficulties the government faces to ensure a low-cost and sustainable gas supply in the country at a time when international gas prices are highly inflated and domestic gas reserves are depleting.
He also discussed the role of the media in creating awareness about the efficient consumption of natural gas by the general public. The members also supported the need to replace inefficient conventional gas geysers with the latest solar water heaters in the country. The meeting concluded with the appreciation of the IEP team for carrying out a detailed report on the supply and demand side management of the gas sector.
The Minister for Planning directed the IEP team to finalise their research and recommendations in the form of a Natural Gas Policy Analysis report within a fortnight.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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