KARACHI, Dec 30: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has said that out of 23 industries on gas in Gadoon -- only five captive power units are facing gas disconnection temporarily , while the remaining 18 units are still using gas without any interruption.

Terming the statement of chairman All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Assocaition (Aptma), NWFP, Muhamamd Taimoor Shah, appeared in Dawn on December 28, as misleading, the SNGPL spokesman said that keeping the winter swing of domestic loads in consideration, contracts for supply of gas to industrial units ever since 1981 are signed by SNGPL for supply of gas on nine months basis viz from March 1 to November 30 while for captive power units it is committed on nine months basis and that too on as and when available basis.

Both the captive power as well as general industrial units is contractually obliged to maintain a reserve of alternative fuel at all times particularly in winters to meet their fuel requirements in the eventuality of disruption of gas supply due to load management.

The persistent cold wave in the northern parts of the country has led to unprecedented increase in domestic loads. SNGPL has had to manage its system by invoking the contractual clause for disconnecting a few captive power units including those in Gadoon. These consumers were and are contractually obliged to maintain adequate reserve of alternative fuel to meet their requirements, he added.

He further clarified that as soon as the supply and demand position, conditional upon the ambient temperatures improves, the disconnected gas to the affected units will be immediately restored.