KARACHI, April 30: Sales revenue of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) during the July-March 2002-2003 went up by 9.7 per cent to Rs25.894 billion as compared to corresponding period of last fiscal.

The company earned a pre-tax profit of Rs1.371 billion during the last nine months, which is lower by seven per cent over the same period of last year. The company in a press release, however, did not mention the July-March 2001-2002’s sales revenue and pre-tax profit earnings.

The SSGC’s board of directors in its meeting held on April 29 approved the accounts for the third quarter and cumulative for the nine months period ended March 31, 2003

The management is, however, confident that the situation would improve significantly in the fourth quarter of the financial year, when balance components of Gas Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Expansion Project (GIREP) would be completed involving commissioning of Sawan Gas Field. The gas sales in volumes and values were increased by six and 10 per cent respectively.

In the last nine months, the company added 35,727 customers in gas stream and laid 375 km long distribution mains and services pipeline. The SSGC’s metre manufacturing division produced 215,000 meters during the period under review.

A five-year development plan has been drawn up which, is being further extended to cover 20 years long term supply and demand scenario.

The distribution development work has been started in Ghari Khairo in Sindh and Sohbatpur in Balochistan along with a number of en-route villages. The projects entail construction of 105 km long gas mains at a cost of Rs251 million. Ghari Khairo and Sohbatpur projects will be completed in May and December this year respectively.

The federal government has decided to supply gas to the residents of Sui Village and Colonies within a radius of three km of the purification plant free of charge. The cost of infrastructure and gas will be borne by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). SSGC will provide the technical services. The company has launched the project and will hopefully complete it by December 2003.