ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has approved an increase in gas prices for domestic and industrial consumers, DawnNews reported.

The authority approved an increase in price of the Sui Northern Gas Company (SNGPL) by Rs 9.87 per mmbtu and that of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) by Rs 6.14 per mmbtu.

The proposed price of SNG will now be Rs31.12 increase on the existing rate whereas the price of SSG would be raised to Rs 28.28.

The new prices are expected to come into effect from Jan 1, 2013 and are expected to remain as such until the month of June.

Ogra has also okayed the measure enabling SNGPL and SSGC to respectively recover 4.5 per cent and seven per cent of stolen gas from consumers.

Ogra has sent the summary with the above-stated recommendations to the petroleum ministry.