ISLAMABAD, JAN 15 /DNA/: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik chaired a meeting today with senior officials of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to review the gas supply situation amid increased demand due to severe cold weather.
Taking serious notice of the gas supply challenges being faced by domestic consumers, the Minister directed the Sui companies to take all necessary and immediate steps to ensure maximum facilitation for household gas consumers, particularly during peak winter conditions. He emphasized that providing relief to households remains the top priority of the government.
To ensure timely and effective decision-making, the Minister directed that weekly reports on gas demand and supply be submitted to the Petroleum Division, supported by daily operational-level monitoring. A detailed report is already being presented to the Petroleum Division daily at 10:00 am, providing full visibility of the last 24 hours’ gas supply situation to enable prompt corrective actions.
During the meeting, the Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited briefed participants on current gas availability. He informed that since January 6, gas supply has been increased from 691 MMCFD to 746 MMCFD. He further stated that output from the Shiva gas field has been enhanced from 55 MMCFD to 65 MMCFD, contributing to improved supply. Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasized that all possible measures should be explored to further ease pressure on domestic consumers. He directed to examine the feasibility of diverting additional gas supplies from the industrial sector to the domestic sector, wherever possible, during the critical winter period.
The Managing Director of Sui Southern Gas Company informed the meeting that the gas supply situation has improved following the restoration of supplies from two gas fields. He stated that 39 MMCFD additional gas has been provided to domestic consumers compared to the same period last year. He also shared that consultations are underway with industry stakeholders regarding the possibility of increasing weekly industrial gas supply shutdown from one day to two days, in order to prioritize household needs.
The Minister reiterated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to take decisive and consumer focused measures to ensure stability in gas supply during the winter season.
