LAHORE, April 27: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) says repair work on the ruptured line will be completed by midnight (night between Sunday and Monday) and supply will be fully restored to power, fertiliser and cement sectors.

One of the two lines, bringing natural gas from Sui to Punjab and the NWFP, was ruptured late on Saturday night after the blast. Though an inquiry has been launched, the company officials are certain that it was a case of sabotage.

The company suffered a shortfall of 350 million cubic feet (Mmcf), which was met by suspending supplies to power, fertiliser and cement sectors. On Sunday morning, it however arranged some 70Mmcf gas from Sui Southern Gas Limited (SSGL) and restored supply to two independent power producers (IPPs) — Ruche Power and Fauji Kabirwala Power Limited.

According to general manager (transmission) K.W Shariq, teams had been mobilised immediately but they reached the spot in the morning after security clearance from the local civil armed forces.

“Those who detect underground lines and blow them up are trained people and make it hard for security forces to guard the entire line in the area. Such kind of sabotage normally takes 24 to 36 hours,” Shariq said.