ISLAMABAD - To mitigate the gas crises in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) has asked SSGC to resume operations of Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) for LPG production besides directing to facilitate the private sector to utilise the idle capacity of LNG terminal to boost gas supply.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar here on Thursday to discuss gas load management plan, RE projects and report on circular debt for October 2021. The meeting was informed that the CNG sector across Pakistan will be closed till February 15, 2021.

The Petroleum Division presented the projected natural gas supply in the country for the winter. During the meeting Petroleum Division presented different policy options for management of the gas supply during winter 2021-22. The meeting was informed about the efforts to enhance the natural gas supply. CCOE directed the Petroleum Division to ensure maximum supply while ensuring implementation of a demand management plan as already approved by the cabinet.

Cabinet Committee on Energy discusses gas load management plan, RE projects and report on circular debt for Oct 2021

Under the gas management plan already approved by the CCOE and the federal cabinet it had been decided that to boost agricultural productivity, uninterrupted gas supply shall be ensured to the Fertilizer Sector. Power Sector IPPs, on dedicated arrangement (3000MW), will get uninterrupted supply. It had been decided that LNG Based Power production to get 5% extra supply during winter, as compared to last year’s actual consumption.

After meeting national requirements of the gas for the critical industries, maximum efforts will be made to accommodate the domestic consumers on priority as already decided by the ECC. In extreme winter, the curtailed gas from CNG, cement, general industry (non-export) and captive (export) to be diverted to domestic sector for comfort of citizens. Gas/RLNG shall be supplied uninterrupted to export-oriented industries including the top 50 exporters, in addition to zero rated industry, unless technical constraints in the system Supply of Gas/RLNG to export-oriented captive power plants shall be monitored till 15th December 2021. It will be readjusted in view of the supply/availability of the gas. The CNG Sector will remain closed with effect from 01-12-2021 to February 15, 2022. 

General Industry (non-export) shall be provided gas on weekly rotation basis, with one day off, for each sector or zone. Cement Industry will be treated at par with the non-export general industry (closure subject to supply review)

CCOE also reviewed the Circular Debt Report October 2021 submitted by the Power Division.  The committee appreciated the sustained reduction in the accumulation of circular debt. It was informed that performance of the DISCOs is continually improving. The sector is also adjusting to the Post-COVID scenario where a collection of dues had dropped significantly. The government has been releasing the budget subsidy amount as per the plan in order to ensure the sustainability of the sector.