CNG stations in Punjab: APCNGA flays government decision to cut gas supply

All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has termed the government's decision to further reduce gas supply to CNG stations in Punjab, from two-day a week to 9 hours twice a week, as last nail in the coffin of CNG industry, which would be resisted with full might.
Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council of APCNGA, while talking to Business Recorder here on Monday said that he along with other members of CNG industry were invited by the Petroleum Minister to discuss CNG-related issues, but the minister due to his other engagements did not have time to meet them. "As we left the ministry's premises, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) issued new gas load management plan for the sector," he added.
He said that CNG sector in Punjab cannot survive if it was forced to work for only nine hours on Mondays and Thursdays. "The new schedule is a conspiracy against the sector, as it will have impact on over 3 million CNG-converted vehicles, fifty thousand jobs and investments worth billions of rupees," he said.
Paracha said that APCNGA would never bow to pressure and do whatever is needed to safeguard the legitimate interests of the world's largest CNG industry costing Rs 450 billion. Meanwhile, Sui-Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) has also revised the Gas load-management plan for the sector. In a statement it said "In the interest of general public and given the low supply of gas from different gas fields, supply of gas has reduced, therefore, during the current week, all CNG stations in Sindh region would remain closed for three days from 08:00 am on Tuesday (July 1 2014), till 08:00 am on Wednesday, (July 2, 2014) for 24 hours. Another shut down will be observed on Thursday (July 3, 2014) from 08:00 am to Friday (July 4), 2014 till 08:00 am for 24 hours. The third shut down will start from 8.00 am on Saturday, (July 5, 2014) and will end on Sunday, (July 6, 2014), till 8.00 am for 24 hours".
CNG stations operating during this period will have their gas supply disconnected and that will not be restored for another 24 hours beyond the closure period. SSGC authorities have also advised the owners of the CNG stations not to fill CNG in such vehicles, where safety of installation of CNG cylinders/piping is not ensured. SSGC regrets the inconvenience caused to CNG users during the above notified shut down.