Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Over the continues absence of Federal Minister for Energy, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum on Tuesday staged walked out and returned after chairman of the committee assurance that a letter in this regard should be sent to chairman Senate and also to the concern minister.
The committee members expressed their reservations on the constant absence of Minister for Energy in the committee meeting.
Protesting members returned to their seats only after assurance from the Chairman Committee that a letter will be written to the Ministry in order to make sure that Minister in charge attends the committee meetings in the future. Committee members declined to go ahead with any future meetings if Minister in Charge is not present.
The Committee on Petroleum was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir here at Parliament House today.
Meeting Commenced with briefing by Ministry of Energy regarding gas shortages/crisis in the Country during last two years and steps taken to overcome the same.
Ministry officials informed the committee that both Sui Companies are making all-out effort to maintain uninterrupted gas supply to all the sectors including domestic & industrial sectors on 24/7 basis. During the summers domestic gas demand reduces but demand of power sector surges which is met by ordering maximum possible volumes of RLNG.
Whereas, during the winter season, domestic gas demand increases over three times on SNGPL’s network and two times on SSGC’s network due to use of water & room heaters and there remains a shortfall even after maximum orders of RLNG by SNGPL. Therefore, load management is carried out to mitigate the demand supply gap.
During winter load management 2019-20 SNGPL effectively managed demand-supply situation. However, supply of gas to non-export General Industry was suspended from 19.12.2019 to 31.12.2019. Whereas, supply of gas to CNG Sector was suspended from 20.12.2019 to 31.12.2019, due to enhanced gas consumption by priority domestic sector owing to severe cold wave.
