PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has demanded of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to provide a grant of Rs6.7 billion to SNGPL for development of infrastructure in the main oil and gas producing southern districts of the province.

Speaking at a public hearing ‘SNGPL-petition for determination on estimated revenue requirement for 2016-17’ here at a hotel the other day, KP Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) chief executive officer Raziuddin Razi also urged Ogra to provide data concerning gas connections and revenue to the KP government on urgent basis.

Ogra chairperson Uzma Adil, member gas Amir Naseem, member finance Noorul Haq, SNGPL general manager Arbab Saqib, LNG chief finance officer Sagheer Ahmed, PTI MPA Dina Naaz, FPCCI representative Pervez Khattak, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association representative Akhlaq Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Razi said that the provincial government had requested for information/ analysis for last seven years, but Ogra/SNGPL did not provide the same so far.

KPOGCL head asks Orga to provide gas connections and revenue data

He said that SNGPL had also violated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s directives to provide gas connections within five kilometers of gas fields. He said that infrastructure in the oil and gas producing districts of Karak, Kohat and Hangu was in a pathetic condition.

The provincial government, he said, was ready to extend cooperation to SNGPL if required, adding that law and order situation in the oil and gas producing areas had improved and the field staff was facing no problem. He said that investors and exploration and production companies were enjoying safe environment.

The Ogra, he said, should direct SNGPL to make tariff as per international norms and involve provinces and adhere to Article 158 of Constitution (priority of requirements of natural gas).

The province in which a well-head of natural gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan in meeting the requirements from that well-head.

He also asked Ogra to stop overcharging of bills and provide standard pressure gas to consumers. He said that Ogra should provide SNGPL with the necessary funds to develop a distribution system in southern districts to facilitate the people.

Dina Naaz said that gas and oil was produced in Kohat, Karak and Hangu, but local people had been kept deprived of the benefits.

Similarly, Pervez Khattak, who is also president of CNG Association, said that over 2,000 CNG stations had been closed due to non-supply of gas. He asked for facilitating the people of Mardan and Dera Ismail Khan.

Mr Akhlaq complained about shortage of gas for textile mills and highlighted the problems being faced by the industrial units.

Following hearing petitions of the people, Ogra chairperson Uzma Adil said that gas tariff could be reduced, but in areas where losses were up to 95 per cent it would not be possible.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016