Govt withdraws notification of gas load shedding
* Announcement came after installation, maintenance of compressors in Qadirpur gas field by SNGPL, OGDCL
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has withdrawn the gas load shedding notification after the installation and maintenance of compressors in the country’s largest gas reservoir Qadirpur gas field by the joint efforts of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
The engineers of SNGPL and OGDCL have reconnected all gas wells, except wells in the Sindh river after the completion of the installation of the new compressor project initiated a year ago and annual maintenance of Qadirpur gas field compressor. While talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar announced that with this development and in view of the progress made, the notification for gas load shedding for the industry and the CNG stations has been withdrawn with immediate effect, which would add 250 mmcfd gas supply and by today (Thursday) the supply would reach to 350 mmcfd while at the end of the current week the production would be at its full swing. He lauded the untiring efforts of the officials of SNGPL and OGDCL who were extra vigilant at Zamzama field and monitoring the worst situation being developed at Manchar Lake due to the recent floods and taking necessary measures to avert any bad situation. The petroleum minister indicated that efforts were being made to maintain the regular supply of gas to CNG and other industrial sectors and to eliminate the gas load shedding.
“Gas load shedding crisis was worsening due to gas suspension of 375 mmcfd from Qadirpur gas field due to shutdown of the affected compressor of SNGPL on account of the floods, however now after the completion of the installation of the ongoing compressor project; notification of gas load shedding has been withdrawn by the government,” he added.
There was no change in the gas pipeline project while the four countries’ two-day Gas Pipeline Steering Committee conference was being held at Ashkabad, Turkmenistan from September 20, 2010 to discuss the matter pertaining to supply of natural gas from the newly discovered Usman gas field, which was being participated by the petroleum and natural resources ministers of Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and India.
Responding to a question pertaining to Pakistan State Oil’s (PSO) circular debt, Qamar confirmed that this issue has become grave for the whole energy sector particularly due to the financial pressure resulted after the floods, however, efforts were underway to improve the situation. The country’s oil sector’s largest giants - Pak Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO) and PSO - have already warned the government of an imminent massive oil crisis due to the unresolved circular debt problem and have urged to arrange funds for import of petroleum products. According to PSO official, the company’s receivables against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) are at Rs 47.3 billion, Hubco at Rs 58.4 billion, KAPCO at Rs 27.69 billion, PIA at Rs 515 million, OGDC Rs 328 million, KESC Rs 1.55 billion, financial charges from PIA are at Rs 960 million, price differential claims (PDC) on High Speed Diesel (HSD) at Rs 1.38 billion and PDC on imported PMG at Rs 3.375 billion.
Similarly, PSO owes Rs 116.97 billion dues to local as well as international fuel suppliers: Rs 37.108 billion to PARCO, Rs 13.723 billion to Pakistan Refinery Limited, Rs 9.36 billion to National Refinery Limited, Rs 24.525 billion to Attock Refinery Limited, Rs 4.69 billion to Bosicor and Rs 26.89 billion on account of Letter of Credits.
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