15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 14: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on Friday announced start of load-management and warned domestic and commercial consumers in Punjab and the NWFP of drop in pressure from Saturday.

Citing crisis at Sui, the company said that 25 per cent cut in supply - 480 million cubic feet out of a total of 1750mcf - has left it with no choice but to start load-management for domestic and commercial consumers also.

The Pakistan Petroleum Limited, the company owning purification plant, has told the SNGPL that plant may take another week before becoming operational. Earlier, the PPL had promised restoration of supply by Friday and the SNGPL hoped to meet the shortfall through its own pack - compressed reserve in distribution lines.

Sources claimed more industries in addition to power and fertilizer, already facing gas curtailment, may be put of line in the next few days. "The choice is clear before the SNGPL either stop supplies to more industries or expose domestic clients to low pressures," said an official of the company. Now, it would be for the government to decide that who should face the crunch.

But gas would certainly be in short supply than it was at present. The sources said that the pack, which was necessary to keep the distribution system efficient, was depleting fast. If it depleted beyond a certain point, which had almost approached, the whole system could collapse. So, it was necessary to stop further depletion and save the system.