Ministry of Petroleum, Industry sources and CNG sector officials accuse the government of not following the gas load-management plan in allocating gas to different sectors. In 2008-09 the economy faced 685 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas curtailment, which in 2011-12 gas curtailment crossed 1.5 billion cubic feet (bcfd) mark.
Textile industry in 2008-09 faced 90 days gas curtailment whereas this year it was for 180 days, which forced many industrialists to shift their production units to other countries. Due to increased gas and power load-shedding millions of people working in the private sector have become jobless.
As per existing gas load-management plan the government is providing 183 mmcfd per day gas to CNG sector against its actual allocation of 221 mmcfd on the system of Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and 72 mmcfd against the earmarked 80 mmcfd on the system of Sui-Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC).
Fertiliser sector is receiving 20 mmcfd against earmarked allocation of 116 mmcfd on the system of SNGPL, general industry 245 mmcfd against proposed allocation of 302 mmcfd, captive power plants are getting a total 258 mmcfd gas against proposed allocation of 195 mmcfd and cement industry is getting a total 4 mmcfd gas.
CNG sector has accused the government of providing gas on the basis of nepotism and favouritism, saying that provision of gas to captive power houses is a direct facility to 13 industrial units at lower cost. A senior official of the Petroleum Ministry talking to Business Recorder said that the government is compelled to allocate additional gas to the power sector following riots and destruction of public assets across the country.
According to Petroleum Ministry official the government has prepared a plan to amend gas allocation plans, which will divert more gas to the power sector to maximise generation, saying that at present total gas allocation to the power sector stands at 300 mmcfd, which after the revision of the plan would rise to 650 mmcfd or more.
"The new gas allocation plan would maximise power generation and reduce electricity rates for consumers" he added. In the existing plan of gas allocation, the fertiliser sector and industrial sectors have been placed in the second category while CNG sector and captive power producers of export oriented textiles are placed in the fourth category. "In the revised gas allocation policy, fertilizer, captive power plants and industry have been proposed to be placed at number three on the priority list," a source in the Petroleum Ministry revealed.