CNG marketing licenses: Ministry seeks clarification from Ogra

The Ministry of Petroleum has asked Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to clarify whether the issuance of marketing licenses to CNG outlets is tantamount to commissioning gas supply vis-à-vis non-availability of gas. Sources said that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) have approached the Ministry of Petroleum, seeking guidelines for commissioning of gas supply to CNG stations in the light of a Supreme Court decision wherein Ogra was directed to grant marketing licenses to certain CNG stations.
They added the Petroleum Ministry has also cited two orders of the Supreme Court in a letter to the Ogra with one dated 19.03.2014 and the other dated 15.04.2013. According to the ministry, Ogra was categorically directed by the Apex Court in 15.04.2013 order not to grant any CNG licenses in view of allegations of non-transparency in granting licenses and non-availability of gas. Later, the court in its order dated 19.03.2014 modified the earlier order and observed that Ogra may issue licenses to certain CNG stations provided these have complied with all the relevant laws, rules and regulations as per the regulatory mechanism of Ogra.
The SNGPL and SSGCL have approached the ministry to seek guidelines in the given situation and subsequently the ministry has requested Ogra to clarify whether marketing licenses issued were in line with orders of the Court and whether granting of marketing license is tantamount to commissioning of gas supply to the respective CNG stations vis-à-vis non-availability of gas.
An official on condition of anonymity said there is serious gas crisis in the country and gas supply to the additional CNG station may not be possible when twice a week gas supply to the existing CNG station was difficult. Ogra has issued marketing licenses to M/s Hamza CNG Filling Station Sahiwal, M/s Midway-II CNG Station Rawalpindi, M/s Renala Petroleum Services Pvt Ltd Lahore, M/s Chinar CNG Filling Station Karachi, M/s Liaquat Associates Islamabad, M/s Shahwani CNG Station Karachi, M/s Abid CNG Station Multan, M/s Ali CNG Filling Station Peshawar Cantt, M/s Rais CNG Filling Station Rahim Yar Khan, M/s Al-Khair Petroleum Services Rahim Yar Khan, M/s Blue Zone International (Private) Limited Islamabad, M/s Nisar CNG Station, Islamabad, M/s Hazrat Ali CNG Station, Hazrat Pishin, M/s Madina CNG Station Kashmore, M/s Decent CNG & Petroleum Service Rawalpindi, M/s Abbas (CNG) Filling Station Hafizabad, M/s Nasir Brothers Petroleum Services Hyderabad, M/s Shahzada Filling Station, Defence View, Karachi and M/s Kangore CNG Station Karachi.