LAHORE: The All Pakis­tan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has rejected the unilateral and sudden reduction in the system gas supply by Sui Northern Gas Pipe­line Ltd, apprehending further energy price disparity.

The company has reduced the system gas supply to 28 per cent from 35pc, effective Sept 1, on account of fast approaching of winter.

“A sudden and unilateral reduction of system gas by just 30 mmcfd is worrisome when already 35 to 40pc of the industrial capacity has been closed down due to high cost of energy,” Aptam Punjab Chairman Syed Ali Ahsan said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said it would further add to the high cost of doing business for industry in Punjab, adding that the textile industry consumes 300 mmcfd of gas, including 200 mmcfd RLNG and 100 mmcfd system gas. “Now the SNGPL has reduced the system gas supply on a lame excuse of drop in mercury.”

He said the industry has an established right on the system gas, which the SNGPL is making expensive through unjustified steps. Such a sudden and unilateral decision is not acceptable, he stressed.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2017