December 06, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1427

LAHORE, Dec 5: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on Tuesday stopped supplies to 25 power-generating units to meet the shortfall caused by the current cold wave.

The company will save some 30 million cubic feet of gas through this load management. It had earlier stopped supplies to cement sector, saving another 35 million cubic feet, a total load management of 65 million cubic feet.

According to SNGLP officials, their current supply stands at 1,750mmcf and the demand is around 1,810mmcf which led the SNGPL to cut gas supplies to cement and power generating units. They will be stopping supplies to general industries if temperature further drops.

Last on the list would be the fertiliser sector, they said, adding the company was cutting supplies to industry to maintain regular supply to domestic users.

The meteorological officials said they hardly see any increase in temperature in the next few weeks. Rather, an extended fog spell may further drop temperature and necessitate further cut in gas supplies.