Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) spokesman Shazim Akhter has said the reduction in the gas pressure is not only affecting the production capacity of PSM but it is also adversely affecting the complex machinery of the plant. In a statement issued on Thursday, Shazim Akhter said that natural gas played a vital role at the PSM as it was considered as a life line for almost all the major production units of this national enterprise.
It is stated that for more than two weeks now SSGCL has reduced the natural gas pressure of PSM to the detrimental level to as low as 0.95-1 kg/cm2. It is pertinent to mention that as per agreement between PSM and SSGC approved the gas pressure is 4-5 kg/cm2 to enable PSM to perform normally which is now continuously denied.
It is also worth mentioning here that PSM has faced similar situation in January, and then again in March, when PSM touched 65 percent of CAPU of its 1.1 million tons of raw steel production per annum. Due to sudden reduction in gas pressure not only the production was reduced but it also damaged the blast furnaces and steel converters. However, the production was managed to 42 per cent of CAPU in March. The concerned authorities should take serious notice of this grave situation to avoid any untoward situation as the production has been reduced to mere existence level without any worthwhile output and any further reduction will directly affect the major plant that is blast furnace and steel converters and might even damage these beyond redemption.