As the country’s gas deficit may touch over 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day in January 2023, government has decided to supply gas to domestic consumers only three times for cooking purposes from November 1.
Under the gas load management plan, the government decided to give the domestic sector top priority in gas supply during the winter season, the News reported on Thursday.
The plan is said to come into force from November 1 till the end of February 2023.
While the domestic sector is given precedence, the non-export industry, or the CNG sector, will have its gas supply suspended and the export sector’s existing gas supply will be cut in half in the winter.
According to a senior official from the Energy Ministry, the amount of RLNG now provided to the power industry would be reduced by 40%.
On Wednesday, top representatives from the Petroleum Division and gas businesses worked to polish the gas load management plan that would be presented to the prime minister for approval.
However, the government, even after the diversion of 250-350mmcfd RLNG to the domestic sector, will ensure gas to domestic customers only three times for cooking purposes as the piped gas deficit is huge.
“Both the gas utilities – Sui Northern and Sui Southern – will also import LPG of 20,000 metric tons on daily basis with the price of over Rs2,300 per cylinder apart from charging Rs7,000 one-time cost of the cylinder.
According to the Sui Northern, an estimated gas deficit of 250mmcfd in November, 400mmcfd in December and 700-750mmcfd in January, and in the Sui Southern’s system 250mmcfd in November, 300mmcfd in December, 350mmcfd in January and 250mmcfd in February 2023.
This means the country would be having a gas deficit that would touch over 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day in the peak winter month of January 2023.
