SSGC advises industry to use RLNG

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Chairman Javed Zia has advised the industry to use regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) because of its consistent availability and quality advantages.

SSGC chairman met the members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to discuss the problems faced by the business community related to the supply of gas, a statement said on Thursday.

The chairman said under the present circumstances, the industry was confronted with a choice to either have no gas/ low pressure gas or have the expensive RLNG.

“If RLNG can kick start sick industries or those industries which are not moving forward, the business community should go for RLNG which will resolve many problems. RLNG has to be taken into consideration by the industrial units because of its consistent availability and qualitative advantages,” the SSGC chairman stressed.

So far, the SSGC has received more than 550 applications from the province of Sindh and Balochistan for new RLNG connections, he added.

He assured of support and cooperation to business and industrial community in resolving issues, and vowed to improve the performance of SSGC, whose strengths and weaknesses have a direct impact on the economy of Pakistan.

Referring to KCCI president’s comments pertaining to the first right of every province on its natural resources under Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan, SSGC chairman reaffirmed that he would fight for the rights of Sindh.

“If Sindh is the largest producer of gas, it must get its due share. However, I will try to logically raise voice on this issue and come up with a model based on technical support from my team in order to create a win-win situation,” he added.

He admitted that gas pressure was low nowadays and supply remains suspended every Sunday, but efforts were being made to address this issue and SSGC’s top priority was to improve gas pressure during the ongoing winter season.

Responding to concerns expressed over misuse of power by SSGC Inspection Teams, Javed Zia assured that the relevant department has been restructured in such a manner that it simply cannot be misused. He sought KCCI’s cooperation in making the gas theft operation successful which started recently under an Act constituted in 2016, which also allows SSGC to create separate Police Stations.

In this regard, police stations have been created in Karachi, Sukkur, Thatta and Quetta for exclusively dealing with cases of gas theft.

Earlier, KCCI President Muffasar Atta Malik pointed out that despite producing 69 percent of the total natural gas, Sindh hardly receives around 28 to 30 percent of gas.

The abundant gas should initially be made available to industries in Sindh and the surplus gas should be subsequently extended to other provinces, he demanded.

He said the government, instead of providing cheaper gas to Sindh from its own resources, announced to supply quite expensive imported RLNG, which was a sheer injustice and completely unacceptable to the business and industrial community of Karachi.