SSGC striving to ensure optimum gas supplies – Pakistan & Gulf Economist

Due to the natural depletion of indigenous gas reservoirs on annual basis, SSGC has been experiencing gas shortages in its system. Since FY 2017–18 the gas supplies have been reduced by 55% (1192 MMSCFD in FY-2017-18 to current 660 MMSCFD) in SSGC’s allocated gas fields and subsequently 535 MMCFD of gas depletion has been observed during the past eight years. The year-wise gas supplies and depletion rate can be seen in the below listed chart;

According to the load management plan approved by ECC, the domestic and industrial sectors are given the first priority. There is no gas load shedding in SSGC’s franchise area of Sindh and Balochistan, especially in the domestic sector however, as part of the gas load management strategy (as per internationally implemented practices) a night-time gas closure / pressure profiling from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am is being exercised in the domestic sector in order to maintain the line-packs for the subsequent day. This also helps in managing / consuming the saved volumes of indigenous natural gas during the peak consumption hours. In the depleting indigenous gas scenarios, SSGC’s management is continuously striving to supply the optimum required volumes of gas to its domestic customers, especially during the cooking hours, including those located at the tail-end of company’s distribution network.

It may be noted that according to the prevailing Natural Gas Allocation and Management Policy, domestic and industrial sectors are prioritized over CNG sector. Presently the maximum consumption of CNG sector is only 2-3 MMSCFD of RLNG in SSGC’s franchise area. CNG sector has no share in the volumes of above-stated indigenous gas supplies and is also prone to the weekly gas closure during the winter season.

In order to improve the quality of service to its customers and to address the issues of low gas pressures, SSGC has undertaken extensive rehabilitation program of its pipeline distribution network across its franchise area, while prioritizing older colonies and those areas that are situated at the tail-end of its distribution network. During last three (03) years, SSGC has completed rehabilitation of distribution networks, totaling over 6,000 kilometers in Karachi and different cities and towns in Upper Sindh with a plan and execution of another 5,000 kms rehabilitation of distribution network in next two (02) years.

Looking ahead, SSGC is actively working with the companies engaged in Exploration and Production of Oil and Gas in its franchise area to make-up the massive depletion occurred during the last few years for supplying adequate volumes of natural gas to all sectors in the years to come.

SSGC’s agile technical teams remain mobilized 24/7 to address any isolated supply related issue. However, the customers in any particular area who are not attended by SSGC’s team for their complains of gas supply / low pressure issues, can contact SSGC’s 24/7 operational contact center by dialing on 1199. They can also lodge their complain through SSGC’s Mobile App SSGC Customer Connect or by visiting our nearest Customers’ Facilitation Centers, Regional / Zonal Offices and Head Office.