February 15, 2007	Thursday	Muharram 26, 1428

LAHORE, Feb 14: Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company Limited on Wednesday cut supplies to three power stations and reduced to fourth one to save an additional 30 mmcfd.

According to the company officials, supplies of about 10mmcfd were suspended to Muzafarghar, Faisalabad and Multan power stations and a reduction of 30mmcfd was effected on Kot Addu Power Station.

They hope to restore supplies as soon as current cold wave subsides, releasing pressure from domestic consumers.

Meanwhile, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) on Wednesday condemned SNGPL for severing supplies to mills without any prior notice, saying that suspension has hit almost all of its exporting mills. The suspension, which started on February 12, has now become the worst ever hitting the industry.

This shutdown was totally unexpected and without any prior announcement. “This may prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the textile industry, which is already on the brink of disaster due to heavy losses resulting from abnormal increase in cost of production,” the association deplored.

It maintains that even those mills which have backup power supplies are finding it unfeasible due to high cost of oil and frequent Wapda shutdowns. As a result of this blackout there was not only a major decrease in export production but also damage to sensitive machinery, which may result in permanent closure.