Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain has said that 30 mmcfd gas would be added to the system by March 15. Talking to Business Recorder on Saturday, Asim said the additional gas would come from Badin, adding that his ministry has already added 100 mmcfd gas into the system in January from Kunnar-Pakasi field.
Total natural gas reservoirs at Nur-Condensate field Badin are estimated as 13.5 bcfd. According to Dr Asim, gas shortage at present has crossed 3 bcfd and the government is making all possible efforts to overcome energy shortage, which included import of Liquefied natural Gas (LNG), construction of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.
Recently Petroleum Ministry has finalised a plan to add over 800 mmcfd gas to the system through local resources. As per plan about 186 mmcfd gas would be added from Kunnar-Pakasi field, 160 mmcfd from Uch, 30 mmcfd from Sinjhoro, 30 mmcfd from Rehman, 30 mmcfd from Mehr, 30 mmcfd from Makori, 10 mmcfd from Nur-Bagla, 6 mmcfd from Jhakro, 15 mmcfd from Jhal Magsi, 10 mmcfd from Sajawal, 20 mmcfd from Kandkot and 120 mmcfd from Sara west.
The Kunnar-Pakasi Deep and Tando Allahyar integrated project is expected to produce 285 mmfcd gas, 387 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 400 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 4,500 barrels of crude oil. Although additional gas would ease the crisis pressure to some extent, the current gas load-management programme would continue countrywide, as total gas supply is a little over 4 bcfd against demand of 6 bcfd. To alleviate the sufferings of people, public sector gas utilities are considering injecting Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) to the system and have issued tender notices in this connection.