SNGPL, SSGC held responsible for current gas crisis; PM orders inquiry against top management

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SNGPL, SSGC held responsible for current gas crisis; PM orders inquiry against top management

Dawn.com Published December 12, 2018

Prime Minster Imran Khan ordered an inquiry against managing directors of SNGPL and SSGC. —Photo courtesy: PM Khan's Instagram account

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while chairing a meeting regarding the current shortfall of gas supply in the country, took notice of negligence on the part of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and ordered an inquiry against their managing directors, Radio Pakistan reported.

The prime minister was briefed by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ghulam Sarwar Khan regarding SNGPL and SSGC's concealment of information from the government pertinent to a fault faced by some of the gas compressors.

The minister held the two companies to account and blamed them for the country's current gas crisis. He said both the companies "demonstrated negligence and incompetence in the estimate of gas demand during December," according to Radio Pakistan.

The premier took notice of negligence on the part of SNGPL and SSGC and withholding of crucial information regarding faulty gas compressors, and ordered an inquiry against their managing directors and sought a detailed report within the next 72 hours.

Furthermore, he directed the management of SNGPL and SSGC to better integrate demand and supply of gas so a crisis can be avoided in the future.

Regarding remedying the immediate shortfall, the prime minister was told that eight cargo ships carrying regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) will arrive in Pakistan as scheduled and efforts were well underway to restore domestic gas production.

The premier was further informed that despite local gas production having lowered and faults in certain gas compressors, domestic gas consumers remained unaffected.

"However, CNG and captive plants of some general industries are facing difficulties," Radio Pakistan reported.

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Aurangzaib Yousufzai

Dec 12, 2018 09:05pm

Nobody is going to tell the Prime Minister that the entire gas supply crises originates from reducing by half the gas intake from OGDCL by both the national Gas Companies. According to reliable sources, conniving with the former Government's conspiracy for importing LNG from Qatar, both the Norther and Southern Gas companies concocted a gas shortage within the country. Whereas, they secretly reduced taking gas from OGDCL gas fields by 50%. The reservoirs in Kohat are lying capped, while we are made to import gas from Qatar at exorbitant price. I wish this matter is looked into in a very serious manner and the culprits are punished.

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Ahmad Saeed

Dec 12, 2018 09:08pm

PTI is pretty good on shifting the blame on to others, i think 5 years will pass with only blaming others for the shortfalls. and by the next election they blame their loss on other parties not letting them work properly.

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Arshad

Dec 12, 2018 09:11pm

SSGC & SNGPL are gas distribution companies. They are not responsible for production or exploration of gas. It's the responsibility of other companies who are supplying gas to them. Call a joint meeting with all of them to sort out this issue before winter arrives in full swing.

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Abu Zaid

Dec 12, 2018 09:20pm

The premier was further informed that despite local gas production having lowered and faults in certain gas compressors, domestic gas consumers remained unaffected. They should redefine 'Domestic Customers', like they did 'u-turn'.

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Moin

Dec 12, 2018 09:22pm

good initiative of inquiry by PM Imran Khan

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Mian

Dec 12, 2018 09:26pm

IK is still on drama mode. How unfortunate for the nation.

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Dec 12, 2018 09:30pm

Finally, we have a prime minister who cares and is hands on working hard to solve problems in public’s interest. Citizens across the board are watching and appreciating the hard work and his dedication. This government will win 2/3+ majority in the next elections.

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Alfa

Dec 12, 2018 09:32pm

Whatever happened to the Iran gas pipeline?

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Sayyar Khan

Dec 12, 2018 09:40pm

@Arshad , if they have faulty equipment they need to either fix it or report it. That’s their job right?

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Rohail

Dec 12, 2018 09:40pm

Fire them!

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Sayyar Khan

Dec 12, 2018 09:41pm

@Ahmad Saeed, nothing to do with blaming many of these top managers are used to not working now they will be responsible which every manager should be.

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Akash

Dec 12, 2018 09:42pm

Pti should confirm the timing, when their responsibility session will start.

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Truthhurts

Dec 12, 2018 09:48pm

These gas companies colluded with oil mafia. Shortage of gas means we have to produce and use fuurnus oil for electricity production. Which is the most inefficient way of producing electricity. Imran is fighting against mafia.

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Newborn

Dec 12, 2018 09:51pm

Yes, But you're the PM.

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Zubair Malik

Dec 12, 2018 09:51pm

Some loyal people to PPP and PMLN are trying to fail Imran Khan and his government. IK must take stern actions against the culprits.

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Hameed

Dec 12, 2018 09:51pm

@Ahmad Saeed, PTI. People like you are creating problems. We need a Martial Law Government bro deal with opposition.

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Concerned 1

Dec 12, 2018 10:01pm

Nothing is ik management fault it’s only other offices who r sabotaging

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SkyHawk

Dec 12, 2018 10:06pm

Well done PM Imran Khan of the Islamic republic of Pakistan.

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Saad khan

Dec 12, 2018 10:11pm

Gas from Qatar is arriving to rescue

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ijaz

Dec 12, 2018 10:12pm

Welcome to winter in Pakistan and the cycle of blame

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KhanHouston

Dec 12, 2018 10:15pm

Why not blaming previous civilians governments for this too? (don't go beyond past 10 years, there is a red line)!

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WayToGo

Dec 12, 2018 10:17pm

Choose your own team PM.. rest are always a blame changer....

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Kas

Dec 12, 2018 10:19pm

@Aurangzaib Yousufzai, oh ? Are these facts?

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ali ahmed

Dec 12, 2018 10:21pm

No body will tell P.M. the financial crisis of Gas company started during during PPP when retrench workers were reinstate and million were paid as an arrears

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N Abidi

Dec 12, 2018 10:28pm

Good for the PM IK! Respect,finally the PM of Pakistan that is putting the country and the Pakistani first! The currupt heads of the major institutions of Pakistan is the reason that Pakistan has not developed !

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Mehdi

Dec 12, 2018 10:36pm

The country's gas production is diminishing each passing day. The state has failed to execute the Iran Pakistan gas pipeline project neither invested in discovery of more gas sources. In winters the use gas heaters and geysers go on peak. What does gas companies do when there is decreased supply of gas from sources. SNGPL and SSGC are gas distribution companies. They dont keep the gas in their pockets. LNG is a costly alternate of gas internally produced

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Karachitee

Dec 12, 2018 10:45pm

@Mian, I guess you are missing those who looted money and sent abroad through their employees account.

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Anti_Corruption_Pakistani

Dec 12, 2018 10:46pm

5 years will pass by just blaming others!

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Ijaz Haq

Dec 12, 2018 10:55pm

PM, Fire them now. That is the only way to give the rest of them a lesson.

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Irfan

Dec 12, 2018 11:05pm

Not even a single logical solution proposed by Imran Khan's team . People were expecting economic and Tax reforms for investment and Stock Market , yet after 100 Days they came up with Chicken and eggs. I think it is evident now they have no economic Plans . Pakistan most crucial problem is water crisis but PTI main agenda is to build 5 million houses.

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Aamie

Dec 12, 2018 11:09pm

The major natural gas reservoirs depleting drastically and it's basically supply & demand disequilibrium. The equipment like gas transmission compressor needs to be re estimated with new gas throughput conditions. Gas Input must increase to reach end customers. Lastly, compressors have redundancy for their operation.....

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Ayesha

Dec 12, 2018 11:20pm

Please, government must realise that CNG use for vehicle fuel is simply not sustainable. Only petrol and diesel should be used, CNG should simply be stopped and used for industrial and domestic supply instead. There was never any gas problem before this became the primary fuel for vehicles.

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AXH

Dec 12, 2018 11:22pm

@Ahmad Saeed, - "PTI is pretty good on shifting the blame on to others, i think 5 years will pass with only blaming others for the shortfalls." PTI does not produce gas.

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Hamieed Khan

Dec 12, 2018 11:28pm

@Ahmad Saeed, So, who do you think is to blame if not the directors of the company for not maintaining their bad compressors? Should PM himself go out and start fixing gas pipelines? Please enlighten us.

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Reality

Dec 12, 2018 11:37pm

@Aurangzaib Yousufzai, Maybe CJP will take notice.

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Dec 12, 2018 11:37pm

He has to get rid of all the Black sheep in the system particularly from the previous government.

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justice

Dec 12, 2018 11:39pm

@Ahmad Saeed, And people like you are quick to blame IK for all the mess created by N.

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Life

Dec 12, 2018 11:55pm

Everybody is under inquiry these days but the result of all inquiries fall flat.

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Anjum Khaleeq - KSA

Dec 13, 2018 12:44am

@Alfa , Iran and Qatar are closest allies in the region, so buying from Qatar or Iran these days means one and the same thing.

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Hiekenen

Dec 13, 2018 01:04am

@Arshad , Managing demand and supply is the distribution company's job. They are also responsible for the transmission aswell. We have arranged RLNG to meet the shortfall. If they can't efficiently forecast what the demand is then what are they doing ?

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emad

Dec 13, 2018 01:08am

"domestic gas consumers remained unaffected"Biggest lie of the century, We haven't seen gas in stove since weather took a change in course.

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Jojo

Dec 13, 2018 01:08am

Why on the 11th hour are we being told that some compressors have been damaged due to which RLNG can not be taken into the North region of Pakistan? Who will take into account the people responsible for plundering tax payers money just like that? These were newly installed compressors, are the engineers so incompetent at our government institution that they can not design well? This all speaks of mal-practices done during procurement and tenders being awarded to favorite people.

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MAkram

Dec 13, 2018 01:13am

Imran Khan is right. I told people Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif responsible for current crisis. Imran Khan cannot solve in 3 month. If Nawaz and Shahbaz didn't solve in 30 years how can Imran Khan solve in 3 month ??

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Arfeen Khan

Dec 13, 2018 01:20am

@Ahmad Saeed, It is not blaming. He is asking to the accountable in-charge about the crisis. It is quite common in developed and just societies.

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Candasuck

Dec 13, 2018 01:40am

@Ahmad Saeed, Most of the people got it and rest will get soon. I want to them win in next election so than they have no excuse.

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Zak

Dec 13, 2018 01:49am

Looks like the instituitions full of previous government corrupt cronies are trying to falter PTI and IK by tactics of inconvieniencing the public who they hope will blame PTI. The strategy is in place, Zardari and PML-N have already stated it, “ this government wont be able to handle it, they cant govern, they will have to go abdicate and go home”. This is one of the tricks of that plan. PTI needs to make a list of key institutions and start changing the senior to mid management, who should change the lower end. This needs priority.

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Syed Chishti

Dec 13, 2018 01:59am

@Aurangzaib Yousufzai, I fully concur.

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Arif Godil

Dec 13, 2018 02:36am

@Ahmed Saeed, Mian and Anti corruption Pakistani. In this situation only people like you will expect IK to take the blame. Reasonable people will definitely not blame the people in power for only 110 or 120 days. IK is taking action to solve the problem. He does not have Aladin Chirag that he will waive it and everything will be wonderful. Let everyone be reasonable.

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Govt Jobs PK

Dec 13, 2018 03:05am

Best Govt of Pakistan

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Ali

Dec 13, 2018 03:18am

The premier is still being misinformed that 'domestic gas consumers remained unaffected'. In Quetta and many other parts of Balochistan consumers are suffering for entire day gas loadshedding. Who bothers for the people in Balochistan where the winter brings extreme cold while the government is trying to please the businesses.

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Moth

Dec 13, 2018 03:34am

@Arshad , bring the producers and distributors on one table. Find the sources of the problem. Define risk mitigation strategy and execute. Two thumbs up for IK. Long live IK.

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Ali

Dec 13, 2018 03:36am

Never accept blame but pass it on to your underlinings. The petroleum minister should resign for his incompetence.

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Sakaniga

Dec 13, 2018 03:41am

You can have a different opinion but what i think is Pti looks really concerned regarding Pakistan's image and is taking satisfying measures to improve the standard of living.. i mean it was just reported yesterday that SNGPL and SNGC were putting a halt to gas supply in gas stations across the country..how wonderful to hear today that PM khan has ordered an inquiry against the managing directors.. bravo for the quick response..

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Dec 13, 2018 04:31am

Like Qatari letter, we now have Qatari gas to our rescue. Blames are broadcast far and wide but accused are not given the opportunity to reply to these allegations in the same forums. Instead of taking responsibility, just take notice to avoid it.

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Ahmed

Dec 13, 2018 04:57am

No government in Pakistan has had such a favourable environment to perform in. Yet this government is a total mess!

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rafeeq

Dec 13, 2018 05:40am

fault is we are broke.... how do we fix it

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Farooq

Dec 13, 2018 06:47am

@Aurangzaib Yousufzai and @Truthhurts: you are both correct. The OGDC and previous Federal and Provincial governments were both hand in glove with the mafias. Deliberate capping of oil and gas wells in the country is still going on. Corrupt officials and mafias take and share bribes from Middle Eastern producers to import their products at exorbitant prices to the detriment of the common man, and artificially induced shortages are present. CJP please take suo moto notice of this widespread corruption and direct the government to take action against the miscreants. Solving this problem will lower gas, petrol and electricity prices very rapidly, as well as improving the economy and balance of payments, especially after the rupee devaluation. ,

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Maboob Saleem

Dec 13, 2018 06:54am

The gas companies are in trouble because no one intends to pay their gas bills. How can they run a company without revenue?

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Murli Nair

Dec 13, 2018 06:57am

There you go PM. Tomorrow if there is some other issue then you will blame some one else. You cannot keep blaming and take U turns whenever you feel. You are the premier of a country you should hold yourself responsible for things going wrong. Instead of blaming others. Otherwise all 5 years if your tenure you will just take U turns and blaming.

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Zain Ansari

Dec 13, 2018 07:06am

When will PMIK stop blaming and start delivering?

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Irfan Maghfoor

Dec 13, 2018 07:07am

Reminds me of Showbaz Sharif. The only difference is the deadline of 72 hour. Taking notices, ordering inquiries, demanding results of inquiries in 72 hours. All too familiar. Naya Pakistan Mubarak ho.

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Sameer

Dec 13, 2018 11:52am

@Aurangzaib Yousufzai, we have many stories but no facts. Can you provide evidence and send it through Citizen app? Doing so will make you eligible for 20% of whatever recoveries are made. You can do a service to the nation and make billions in the process!

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EJAZ-UR-REHMAN

Dec 13, 2018 11:54am

Problem may be taken in totality, understanding roles and responsibilities of various functionaries involved. Regulatory regime of Gas transmissioin and Distributioin companies is complex and more vulnarble to circular debts in presence of LNG. Defence mindset of particulary SNGPL will contineus to prevail till two seprate terrif exist for LNG and system gas and repeatatioin of such crises in hifh domestic demand situatioin. SNGPL, in particular, will always try to be conservative in picking LNG under existing regime becuase of tarrif difference. Governmenet should not take this as fit case for surgical strick rather need to redesign terrif regime to help SNGPL to get out of fear factor of circular debt.

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Raziuddin

Dec 13, 2018 10:20pm

A good move by PM

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