“Committed to Prioritized Gas Supply for Industry, Says SSGC Chairman Asif Inam”
“Hope Gas Supply Improves from February; Continuous Supply Maintained in Balochistan Despite Severe Cold,” MD Amin Rajput
“Industries Have Started Shutting Down Due to Gas Shortages and Low Pressure; Dependence on Alternative Sources Increasing,” CATE President Muhammad Ikram Rajput
Asif Inam, Chairman of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC), stated that new members have joined the board, most of whom are stakeholders familiar with SSGC’s challenges and their solutions. He emphasized that SSGC is committed to supplying gas to both domestic consumers and industry on a priority basis. He expressed these views while addressing industrialists during a visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (CATE).
The event was attended by CATE President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Acting Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Zahid Hameed, Vice President Muhammad Talha Ali, Chairman of the Standing Committee Ehteshamuddin, CEO of CATE Zahid Saeed, former chairmen and presidents Junaid Naqi, Farhan ur Rehman, Masood Naqi, Farukh Mazhar, Rehan Javed, SSGC Acting Managing Director Amin Rajput, Syed Fahad, Syed Saeed Zazvi, and other members and industrialists.
Asif Inam further explained that during winter, gas shortages forced a temporary suspension of industrial supply. It was initially expected that alternative sources could fill the gap; however, due to a drop in gas field pressure and unavailability, the suspension became necessary. He added that next winter, SSGC will prepare a gas load management plan in consultation with industries to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Acting MD Amin Rajput said that severe cold in Balochistan, with temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees, has made life heavily dependent on gas. Despite losses, the company continues supplying gas there on humanitarian grounds. He mentioned that most of the RLNG imports are handled by Sui Northern Gas, and SSGC only downloads gas according to industrial demand, which is also limited in winter. He highlighted that the shutdown of captive power plants reduced gas usage by 100 MMCFD, causing a loss of consumers worth 10 billion PKR annually, posing a major challenge.
He noted that gas supply in the country is declining at 8 percent annually, while integrating newly discovered gas into the system takes about two years. Currently, the fertilizer sector, which used to receive 60 MMCFD of gas, is only receiving 2 MMCFD. He expects that gas demand will rise further due to harsh cold in January, with improvements likely in February as the season gets better. According to research, the country will not require RLNG imports after 2031, which is why the government is diverting RLNG cargo.
CATE President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said that Asif Inam belongs to the business community and understands their issues well. He expressed hope that Asif Inam will play a key role in resolving industrial problems. He added that industries have started shutting down due to gas shortages and low pressure, and reliance on alternative sources is increasing, causing production costs to soar. He urged the government to reduce gas prices for industries.
Acting Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya emphasized that industrialists and SSGC officials can resolve issues through consultation. He expects the SSGC chairman to relay industrial concerns to the government and act as a bridge between the government and the industry. He stated that industrialists are ready to cooperate fully with the government to stabilize gas delivery and pricing.
Chairman of the Standing Committee Ehteshamuddin noted that for the second consecutive week, gas supply to industries was suspended, worsening the situation. He urged the government to supply gas to industries on a priority basis alongside domestic consumers. Vice Chairman Rehan Javed suggested revising the weekly supply cut, managing pressure better, or limiting shutdowns to 50 percent. He confirmed that industrialists are ready to cooperate with SSGC in consultation with the government.
Zahid Saeed, CEO of CATE, said that captive power plants are idle, with costs almost equivalent to scrap. He explained that continuous fluctuations in gas pressure make reliance on it difficult. He criticized the government for increasing gas shortages while diverting RLNG, stressing that industries are willing to purchase gas at government-set prices, but uninterrupted supply is not ensured. He added that delayed notifications about weekly shutdowns prevent industries from arranging alternatives.
Former President Masood Naqi highlighted the inconsistencies in gas pricing and stressed the need for a unified policy. He suggested supplying gas to captive power plants at grid prices and immediately resolving pressure issues. He also called on SSGC to focus on policy-making and balanced pricing to reduce pilferage.
