Staff Reporter Karachi
Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala and President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) M. Shariq Vohra, while strongly criticizing Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for announcing suspension of gas supply to industries, appealed Prime Minister Imran Khan to order SSGC to refrain from suspending gas supply to industries and also order a probe into the massive gas mismanagement as the industries in Karachi, which were already going through unbearable circumstances, cannot afford any kind of interruption in their production activities due to suspension of gas supplies.
In a statement issued, Chairman BMG and President KCCI stated that if SSGC as per its claim was facing gas shortfall of 200-250 mmcf from Kunnar-Pasakhi Deep (KPD) Gas field and Engro Terminal then this shortfall could have been surmounted through RLNG for the time being but instead of doing so, they announced abrupt suspension of gas supplies to industries which was totally unacceptable as it would prove disastrous not only for the business community but also for economy and the public.
“The business community has always been kept in the dark about supply of RLNG which is highly unfair.
We need to know what is the quantum of RLNG retained by SSGC and what is the sale volume of RLNG to consumers in Sindh and Baluchistan as we apprehend that the factual position is that they are selling more quantum of RLNG than what they are purchasing therefore, we feel that this shortage can also be minimized if the quantum of RLNG which is being purchased by SSGC should be more than what they are selling and not the other way around.
He said that as far as our knowledge is concerned around 150-200 mmcf RLNG was being supplied to industries and we have also been told that SSGC has been restrained from retaining RLNG and there are orders that the entire volume of RLNG of 1200 mmcf should be given to SNGPL.
“What will happen to these industries in Karachi to whom supply of 200 mmcf RLNG (including KE) was committed.
It’s a double jeopardy as in addition to supplying gas from Sindh’s indigenous resources, RLNG is also being handed over to SNGPL.
In such problematic circumstances when KPD Gas field and Engro Terminal were simultaneously going on a turnaround, what is going to happen to industries in Karachi”, he asked, adding that this turnaround could have been scheduled during the forthcoming holidays of Eid ul Azha.