Sui Northern Gas Managing Director Rashid Lon on Thursday said that gas supply of only gas stations has been cut off, which are located in congested areas as domestic consumers have more right over gas than CNG stations.
Talking to PTV News on the issue of gas supply cut to CNG stations, he said that 275 units have been closed in Punjab and NWFP. Out of which 10 percent units will be opened from February 1 (tomorrow).
He said a rotation criteria has been devised to deal with the situation. According to formula gas supply of CNG stations would be cut off turn wise. "If the situation gets better all gas stations will be opened at the same time otherwise they will be opened in chunks", he added.
Regarding contract with CNG stations, the MD said there is no such contract with the stations for continuous supply of gas to them and supply can be curtailed under certain circumstances which is mentioned in the contract.
Meanwhile, talking to the chairman, All Pakistan CNG Dealers Association, Malik Khuda Bakhsh, on the situation declined the Sui Northern notion that the issue of provision of gas supply to CNG stations will be resolved in 10 to 15 days, adding that crisis is severe and cannot be solved in less than one month's time.
He said the main reason for the crisis is its high demand in winter season as gas consumption has increased manifold. Malik Khuda Bukhsh said the situation can worsen in the coming days and there is a dire need to take effective measures to overcome the problem.
He said there is a deficit of 600 million cubic ft and to overcome the deficit, the supply of gas has been terminated to certain CNG stations. The CNG Dealers Association chairman suggested that being a stakeholder they must be contacted to solve the problem and only they can give suitable suggestions.