SNGPL restores gas supply to industries

LAHORE: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd has restored gas supplies to general industry despite high demand from the domestic sector amid severe wintery conditions. According to an SNGPL spokesperson, the gas utility has successfully alleviated the gas crisis. Currently, the domestic sector consumption has reached approximately 1263 MMCFD owing to extreme weather conditions. Last year, average consumption of Domestic sector during December, it was 831 MMCFD only. The SNGPL braved this sharp increase in demand by diverting record RLNG to domestic consumers, he added. During December 2018, the average diversion of RLNG to the domestic sector was approximately 155 MMCFD. This year, the average December diversion has crossed 300 MCMFD. However, during the last seven days, the diversion is more than 500 MCMFD. The SNGPL has provided more than 3 times the LNG to the domestic consumers this December compared to last year and that's why the system has stabilized and the industry is being opened today. Rs 1950 per mmbtu LNG is being provided at a low system gas tariff by the SNGPL. Pakistan is 5th most affected country in the world in respect of climate change. Extreme weather conditions are increasingly becoming common with passage of time. The average consumption of the domestic sector during summer (April to November) last year was 488 MMCFD. Hence the consumption in winter has increased by 250 per cent. The average consumption of domestic, commercial, industrial and CNG sectors (city load) on the network during last December was 1437 MMCFD whereas this year, the average consumption of these sectors has exceeded 1600 MMCFD, the spokesperson said. It means approximately 150 MMCFD in excess is being supplied on a daily basis which showed the SNGPL proactive attitude, he claimed.

Reconnection of the CNG sector in Punjab will be carried out following the resumption of supplies to non-zero-rated industrial sector in Punjab. Around 120 MCMFD was curtailed from non-zero-rated industry (80 ~ 100 MMCFD) & CNG sectors (40 MMCFD) in Punjab. Curtailment was necessitated owing to record low December temperatures arising from climate change on which the company has no control. The SNPGPL has kept the system alive under extreme temperatures. The line packs which had gone down to 3800 MMCF have now increased to 4300 MMCD.