LAHORE, Jan 2: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has again stopped supply of gas to 118 captive power plants (CPPs) in Lahore-Sheikhupura, Bhai Phero and Gujranwala regions, forcing the export-oriented industrial units, especially textile mills, to close down their operations for an indefinite period.
A SNGPL official told this reporter that the company had been constrained to cut supplies to the CPPs owing to the imbalance between supply and demand of gas caused by the current wave of severe cold and foggy weather.
He said the gas supply to the CPPs had been stopped in accordance with the agreement signed by each unit, and it would be restored as soon as weather conditions improve.
The official said the gas supply to industrial units was stopped in order to facilitate the domestic consumers of gas, despite the fact that the company would suffer revenue losses in doing so.
It may be recalled that the SNGPL had stopped supply of gas to some 41 CPPs in Sheikhupura and Gujranwala regions on December 15. It was, however, restored on December 20, with instructions to the industry to use only half of their sanctioned load.
The gas company again stopped supply to 118 CPPs, 111 in Lahore and seven in Gujranwala region. The gas supply to half of the units was restored on Dec 30, and to the remaining on Dec 31, to be stopped again on Sunday evening.
The textile manufacturers and exporters say the SNGPL’s action to stop gas supplies to their units will adversely affect exports.
“It will result in loss of export earnings, as well as loss of global market share in addition to reduced production causing widespread unemployment,” said former senior vice chairman of Aptma, Adil Mehmood, while talking to Dawn. “We will incur substantial losses because of the disconnection of gas supplies to the industries and won’t be able to execute export orders on time.” He appealed to the president and the prime minister to intervene to restore gas supplies to the CPPs. The millers say they are unable to make alternate arrangements for the continuous power supply and Wapda had told them to wait for at least one month for the restoration of their power connections. It is pertinent to mention that during the last 10 years, it is the second time when the gas supplies had been stopped. Last year, the gas supply to the industry was stopped after the gas pipeline was blown up in Balochistan and the Punjab in separate incidents.