Gas will be made available to customers from 6 am to 9 am in the morning, from 12 pm to 2 pm for lunch, and from 6 pm to 9 pm for supper.
One of the Energy Ministry’s top officials told The News, “More crucially, commercial consumers would receive RLNG in Punjab, with the exception of roti tandoors, which will receive system gas (local gas).
The official stated, “The CNG, fertiliser, cement, and non-export industry will have zero gas supply.” “Gas supply to captive power plants of the export industry may be cut off if the winter season peaks from December 15 to January 31. For the power sector, the existing gas supply of 200 mmcfd may be reduced by half.”
He claimed that 1.35 billion cubic feet per day has been calculated as the nation’s gas shortage for the winter of 2022–2023 (billion cubic feet gas per day). “It has been calculated that the gas deficit in the SNGPL system, which serves Punjab and KPK, will remain around 900–1,000 mmcfd.
The Petroleum Division has also requested Rs105 billion for the expensive RLNG injection into the domestic market for the winter of 2022–2023.
Domestic users should be given top priority and pressure-supplied gas, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. And only if RLNG is channelled to domestic Punjab and KPK consumers is this achievable.
It’s interesting to note that no money has been recovered from the expense of RLNG, which was previously channelled to domestic consumers over the past four winters. There has been no recoupment of the Rs108 billion cost of RLNG that has already been pumped into the local market. There is already Rs. 1,500 billion in circular debt in the nation’s gas industry. In order to assure the RLNG’s diversion and the provision of gas to domestic consumers at the necessary pressure, the Petroleum Division would present this case to the prime for approval of Rs105 billion.
The cost of RLNG is $13 per MMBTU, but the retail price of natural gas is currently Rs400 per MMBTU (Rs3,100). The Petroleum Division wants consumers to cover the differential through gas utility revenue requirements.
According to the modified laws, RLNG is no longer referred to as a petroleum product but rather as a gas, the cost of which can now be recovered from domestic users through Sui Southern and Sui Northern’s revenue requirement petitions.
If winter becomes more harsh, the gas supply to captive power plants of export industries would also be cut off. Right Currently, 50% of the gas supply is going to the captive power plants. However, the gas of 40–42 mmcfd would continue for processing in the textile industry.
The government would stop supplying gas to captive power plants because it is selling energy at a rate of Rs19.99 per unit. Currently, 165–200 mmcfd of gas are given to the power industry, which would be cut in half during the busiest winter months.
