ISLAMABAD: The government has revised gas load management plan for textile industry, according to which gas would be supplied five days a week, sources said. The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) has issued a notification according to which only two days a week gas load shedding would be conducted for the industry, sources told Business Recorder.
The government has diverted additional 76 mmcfd gas to textile industry, resulting in reduced gas load shedding for two days a week. The decision came on Saturday after a telephonic conference between Federal Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain who was in London, Aptma and SNGPL. However, SNGPL issued a notification in this regard late on Sunday night.
This was stated by Gohar Ijaz, Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), while talking to Business Recorder on Monday. Recently, contracts with four independent power plants for gas supply under Gas Supply Agreements (GSAs), expired, releasing 140 mmcfd gas supply.
Subsequently, the government decided to divert gas of two power plants ie 76 mmcfd to textile industry, he added. He said that a meeting was held between Dr Asim Hussain and Aptma last week, where the Minister assured that the textile industry would get five days a week gas supply from 10th of the current month.
SNGPL took this decision after Aptma warned the government that its members would agitate if SNGPL officials failed to supply gas for less than five days a week. The government then took appropriate measures to forestall any untoward situation, particularly in Punjab, sources added. Gohar said that SNGPL promised to act as per Minister's instructions and provide continuous gas supply for five days a week to the textile industry.