December 12, 2006	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 20, 1427

LAHORE, Dec 11: The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) on Monday cut supplies to another 74 units of the general industry to ensure uninterrupted supplies to domestic consumers as cold wave continues in the country.

According to industry officials, the domestic consumption has almost doubled during the last few days. In company's terminology, all load except for power, cement and fertiliser sector, is considered city load. It has risen from 600 to 700mcf in summer days to 1,450mcf these days.

Against a total supply of 1,750mcf, the demand has gone up to 1,850mcf, leaving a gap of 100mcf, which has now been met stopping supplies to general industry. The company has already stopped supplies to power and cement sector, and saved 200mcf. Thus, the total deficit now stands at 300mcf.

They said the company was avoiding cuts on fertiliser sector because of its importance for agriculture sector in the country. The company still has a manoeuvring space of around 150mcf before it has to touch the fertiliser sector. Hopefully, that stage won't come because the cold wave is at its biting best right now. In future, things can only improve, they hoped.

Talking about reduction in pressure at some CNG stations in the city, they claimed that the company still had not cut supplies to them.

Reduction in load may be problem of system or these stations might be situated at the tale-end of the system, otherwise, there is no reduction in supplies.