LAHORE: The distribution system will have 1,200 million cubic feet (mmcfd) of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas by the end of 2016, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Managing Director, Amjad Latif said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing at the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Punjab chapter office, he said the move would minimise the energy crisis to a great extent.

He said currently 470mmcfd RLNG was present in the SNGPL distribution system which was being distributed with different proportions to textile, fertiliser and CNG sectors as well as independent power producers.

He said Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) ratio with RLNG stood at around 8.7 per cent and without it stood at 9.5pc.

“470mmcfd RLNG is available in the system. Out of it, 160 mmcfd is being supplied to the textile industry, followed by 50mmcfd to the fertiliser sector, 20mmcfd to the CNG sector and remaining to the power sector,” Latif added.

He said a consortium of banks was providing a loan of Rs70 billion for import of gas from different destinations. The infrastructure would be completed by December 2016, he added.

Replying to a query, Latif said execution phase was under process on the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline.

About new connections to the industry, he said a policy guideline would soon be finalised in this regard.

He said the ratio of 7pc UFG had been decreased to 4.5pc which was not logical. The issue is pending with the Supreme Court right now to sort out the bench mark, he added.

Latif said the SNGPL UFG was in a single digits and a new Gas Act was in place to expedite recovery of arrears,” he added.

On the occasion, Aptma Punjab Chairman Aamir Fayyaz lauded the government for supplying 24/7 gas to the textile industry after six years on an affordable price.

Fayyaz said industries exports could be doubled in the next few years from $13bn to $26bn subject to uninterrupted energy supply on affordable rate.

Fayyaz said the textile industry was consuming 160 mmcfd RLNG, which might reach to over 200 mmcfd if gas connections were provided to the remaining mills.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2016