No gas for industry, CNG stations two days a week

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Gas load management plan aims at suspension of supply to industrial units and CNG stations for eight days a month on rotation basis in Punjab, NWFP

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: A special meeting of the federal cabinet on Wednesday decided that gas supply to industrial units and CNG stations would be shut down for two days a week in Punjab and NWFP alternately this winter.

Official sources told Daily Times that according to the gas load management plan, CNG stations would remain closed for eight days a month on rotational basis in the zones served by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

SNGPL devised the plan to meet the massive demand of gas in Punjab and NWFP in winter.

According to the plan, gas supply to all CNG stations would be suspended in Lahore region on the first two days of the schedule. Lahore region, as defined by the SNGPL includes all areas from Kasur to Muridke, including Sheikhupura.

CNG stations in the Islamabad region would remain closed on the third and the fourth day. The Islamabad region consists of districts from Jhelum to Attock, including Murree and Rawalpindi.

On day five and six, gas supply to Gujaranwala and Peshawar regions would be suspended. The Gujranwala region includes Muridke, Kamoki, Sialkot, Sarai Alamgir and the highways. The Peshawar region, as defined by the SNGPL, includes the entire NWFP province, except Hazara division.

CNG stations in Multan, Abbotabad, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur regions would not receive gas on the seventh and the eighth day of the schedule. According to the gas plan, the eighth day would be the first day of next week.

However, a SNGPL official said, “The tentative date for the implementation of the plan is November 15,” adding that the gas load management plan would continue until March 15, 2010.

The company expects to save and divert 25 million cubic feet of gas per day from the sector through the plan, he said.

According to the load management plan for industrial units, Lahore has been divided into two zones. Industries would remain closed for two days on rotation basis starting with Lahore–I, followed by Lahore-II.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_1