A parliamentary panel on Thursday expressed concern over the lethargic attitude of government departments that created bottlenecks in the way of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import by the private sector to maintain their monopoly over the gas network
This led to the gas crisis in winter, which resulted in suspension of gas supply to the captive power plants of industries and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Sindh and Balochistan
The government approved a policy in July 2020 which allowed the power sector to import LNG
However, the private sector faced hurdles as Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) failed to allocate idle capacity of an LNG terminal
Consumers have paid around $99 million in three years on account of capacity charges for not utilising idle capacity of the LNG terminal
The Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum discussed the delay in LNG import by the private sector
The committee was briefed by officials of various government entities including Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Petroleum Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta
Committee Chairman Senator Abdul Qadir asked about the reasons for delay in LNG import in winter months while committee members inquired about the sale and supply agreement between PLL and gas utilities
“Despite so many years of LNG import, there is no agreement between the state-owned entities and this is the reason why LNG import is unstructured,” said Qadir
He noted that due to the lack of any sale and purchase agreement, the gas companies had failed to draw up the annual import plan
Read Gas shortage ‘not linked with LNG import’ “This is the reason why the private sector is not given an opportunity to import LNG, despite the fact that this move will not only save government money but will also push competition among LNG buyers
” Discussing the contract between PLL and SNGPL for LNG supply, the officials apprised the committee that 90% of the agreement had been finalised and it would be concluded in one month
Committee members were informed that SNGPL had to give around Rs212 billion to PLL for LNG purchase
The parliamentary panel also discussed the establishment of two more terminals in Gwadar for LNG import and its supply to the rest of the country through bowsers
Petroleum secretary informed the committee that the matter had been delayed because NOC had not yet been granted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the local deputy commissioner
Committee members criticised the lack of coordination among different government departments
They demanded that Chairman Senator Abdul Qadir give a ruling against the delay in making the LNG terminals operational in Gwadar
“This is nothing short of inefficiency as government departments have not been able to resolve the matter,” Qadir said, adding that the petroleum ministry should deal with the Gwadar terminals issue on a fast track
He directed the petroleum ministry to devise a mechanism for gas supply at lower rates to the areas enduring severe cold during winter
The committee noted that cheap gas supply to the fertiliser sector was not getting the desired results, therefore, it should be stopped
Senator Afnanullah Khan was of the view that Pakistan’s exports would decline due to non-availability of gas for the industrial sector
Read more LNG terminal operator eager to expand capacity Responding to that, the petroleum secretary said that because of decrease in domestic production and increase in demand, the government had to suspend supplies
It was government’s policy to stop gas supply to the captive power plants due to the circular debt of over Rs2 trillion
However, the ministry has given directives that every textile mill can get gas supply after an efficiency audit
Committee chairman asked Energy Minister Hammad Azhar whether the industries could import LNG on their own
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2022
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| Date: | 08-Jan-2022 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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