SSGC halts gas supply to non-export industries to manage winter load

• Gas supply to non-export industries in Sindh and Balochistan to remain suspended from today till next orders.
• SSGC says decision will help fulfil domestic consumers' requirements, especially in Balochistan.
• Earlier, energy minister Hammad Azhar and PML-N leader Miftah Ismail had engaged in a Twitter argument over gas shortage.

KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has stopped gas supply to the non-export industries of Sindh and Balochistan to ensure supply to domestic consumers as the gas crisis in Pakistan worsens.

A statement issued by the SSGC spokesperson stated that the decision had been made in line with the gas load management plan approved by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division).

Domestic consumers are a priority under the plan.

"The decision to discontinue the supply to non-export industries has been made to fulfil the requirement of domestic consumers [especially in Balochistan which is facing extremely cold weather]," the statement had read.

The supply will remain suspended to the general industries till further orders. However, the supply to the zero-rated export industries including the captive power plants and fertilizer sector will continue, it added.

The statement further stated that it is pertinent to mention that provision of additional gas supply to Balochistan is essential for human survival in the province due to extreme weather conditions during the winter season.

"The SSGC expects cooperation from the non-export industries in ensuring the uninterrupted gas supply to the domestic consumers," it added.

Hammad Azhar vs Miftah Ismail

Earlier this week, on Thursday, former finance minister and PML-N leader Miftah Ismail took a dig at Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar over the country's gas shortage, saying that he craves for "entertainment" in form of two separate debates, one between Azhar and [Finance Minister] Shaukat Tarin, and the other between Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada and the energy minister.

"Since the PTI's government has failed to provide adequate gas for the 4th winter in a row, at least it should provide us entertainment," Ismail wrote.

While mentioning the two debates, Ismail had referred to Hammad Azhar's challenge to Shahzeb to hold a debate on the country's LNG and gas issues.

Azhar, in his response to Ismail's tweet, wrote that there must be one debate between the PML-N leader and the anti-graft watchdog since the former has "failed to import even half of the LNG cargoes" the incumbent government is importing with the "same terminals".

"One debate between you and NAB too. As you failed to import even half of the LNG cargoes that we are importing with the same terminals. And burnt more than 4 times of FO than the PTI govt because you failed to utilise LNG terminals to even 50%," Hammad wrote.