LAHORE: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) announced on Monday provision of one-day-a-week gas to the CNG and industrial sectors from today (Tuesday), saying the supply will be increased to both sectors subject to improvement in weather conditions.

“There is still a shortfall of 1,250 MMCFD currently against overall requirement of 2,800 MMCFD and the federal government is working on different projects, including LNG import, to enhance gas production,” SNGPL Managing Director Arif Hameed told members of Lahore Economic Journalists Association at his office.

The company might bring down load-shedding from the next year, he added.

He told a questioner that all applications for new gas connections submitted as of 2010 had been entertained and up to 1.3 million others were pending till date.

Mr Hameed said those who applied for new connections six months ago or before could get the same within three months after depositing Rs25,000 urgent fee under the new policy.

Responding to a question, the SNGPL MD claimed the company reduced gas losses by two per cent which, he said, currently stood at 10.4 per cent.

About the ongoing anti-theft campaign, he said as many as 900 FIRs were lodged, 500 people were arrested and an amount of Rs4.5 billion was recovered from pilferers. He said new smart gas meters would be installed soon to check pilferage.

To a question, he said the company took action against big industrialists for stealing gas and that up to Rs900million had to be recovered from those arrested during the campaign. They were now paying outstanding amounts to secure bails, he added.

Mr Hameed told journalists that a terminal would be constructed for LNG supply and all arrangements had been made in this regard, adding that the expected availability of the liquefied gas in November 2014 would help reduce the shortfall in the country. He said the LNG would only be provided to commercial and industrial consumers.

He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had the privilege to increase gas tariff, adding it was too early to say anything about increase in gas tariff after introduction of LNG in the country. He said the SNGPL was not responsible for meeting expenses of lying LPG pipeline.

The MD hoped that the domestic consumers would be exempted from the impact of import value of LNG.