KARACHI, Feb 4: The Sui Southern Gas Company has prepared a contingency plan to deal with problems in case of any attack on its main gas transmission and distribution system, said the managing director of the SSGCL, Munawwar Baseer Ahmed, at a meeting with members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

“Arrangements have been made to continue gas supplies to the consumers in case any unfortunate incident occurs,” he said.

He said the Sindh government and Rangers had already assured of all possible help to provide security to the transmission and distribution system of the SSGCL. “Patrolling by Rangers and police have begun at key installations and transmission systems,” he added.

The SSGCL has taken security measures in view of the two attacks on the SNGPL’s main gas pipeline last month by local tribesman, resulting in suspension of gas supplies to industries in Punjab and the NWFP and CNG stations.

Mr Ahmed said a scada (supervisory control and data acquisition) system had been activated at critical and remote locations. The system monitored gas flows, pressure and temperature.

Remote control actuators on various key locations of transmission and distribution systems had also been installed which could close the nearest valve by remote control in a few seconds to avert any major disaster in case a gas pipeline was attacked, he informed.

He said emergency response centres had been set up at eight key locations.