ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has termed the notification for forced conversion of eateries to Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) flawed and directed the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) to amend it.

SNGPL authority has issued notices on Oct 25 regarding disconnection of gas connections in the coming winter season for alternate supply of the RLNG which is more costly than the SNGPL gas tariff rate.

The petition before Ogra said that the issue involved here is the unilateral imposition of new commercial consumer contract, the RLNG contract and the decision of the authorities to disconnect the supply of gas on the premises on failure of signing of the proposed new contract.

The petitioners have further been directed to execute the contract within just two days.

The petitioners requested the court to set aside the SNGPL’s directives and urged the court to restrain SNGPL till disposal of the petition.

Three member bench of Ogra heard the petition. It also sought reply from the SNGPL. As per the decision of the authority, SNGPL’s notification was inappropriate and lacked legal backing.

It set aside the notification and directed the distribution company to amend it and put this on discretion of commercial consumers as if they want to retain the existing connection and would opt for the RLNG.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2022