Solving the energy conundrum sans conservation? - I

Your coverage of critical gas supply issues under "Gasping for gas" (BR February 20), "Don't keep expectations high (BR March 2) and "Solving the energy conundrum" (BR March 3) are all about cost of RLNG but, unfortunately, miss the real issue of gas wastage which is resulting in serious shortages of domestic gas supply to the deserving sector. This sector, covering export-oriented industries and those involved in production of essential items and services cannot survive on imported RLNG at present costs. These costs will further increase due to rise in oil prices so where are we heading?
The problems of gas supply shortages were noted at least two decades back and at that time, the authorities had taken a sensible decision to only allow efficient use of natural gas in industries and large commercial applications. Specifically, it was confirmed that natural gas would only be supplied to efficient cogeneration/CHP systems and efficient combined cycle power plants. What really happened is, of course, another story!
Even though natural gas was only sanctioned for efficient use as mentioned above, both SNGPL and SSGC looked the other way as industrialists and owners of large commercial complexes totally ignored the essential requirements of efficient utilization of this precious fuel and we saw a deluge of inefficient installations covering gas engine generators, gas-fired absorption chillers and gas-fired boilers for steam and hot water. Since then, there has been no step to get back to enforcement of earlier sensible regulations which would only allow efficient utilization of sanctioned domestic gas.
The authorities need to take urgent actions to meet essential requirement of efficient utilization of our precious natural gas resource. That actually means immediate survey and confirmation of industrial and commercial users of domestic natural gas and conversion of domestic gas tariff to LNG tariff for all those who are not following the gas supply approval criteria! This should be applicable to all users and inefficient gas-guzzlers should not be allowed to use domestic natural gas even under the garb of Article 158 of the Constitution.