KARACHI - In order to step up efforts aimed at reversing the low gas supply situation in parts of Balochistan, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has been implementing various projects to augment the pipeline infrastructure in the province.
In October, a 40km pipeline of 16-inch diameter was commissioned from Quetta to Mastung to ensure uninterrupted supply to Mastung, Kalat and surrounding areas during winter, an SSGC press release said. Previously, there was no supply in these areas during the chilly weather. The company has also planned to lay a 34km-long high-pressure pipeline from its headquarters in Shikarpur to Jacobabad at a cost of Rs1.435 billion to reinforce the transmission network for supplying gas to Balochistan.
According to press release, two compressors have already been installed at Shikarpur to boost pressure to supply the required volume of gas to Balochistan. Installation of a third compressor is under process for enhancing the volume by 21MMCFD. This will cater to Balochistan’s demand during the winter, it said.
The rising trend of unaccounted for gas (UFG) in Balochistan has also contributed to severe gas shortage. In percentage terms, from July to November, a massive 51.78pc of UFG was recorded,` the company said, adding that all efforts were being made to reduce the UFG levels by taking measures, including identification and rectification of pipeline leakage and measurement errors and crackdown on illegal connections.
During the last few years, the demand for gas in Quetta and its surrounding areas has increased from 110MMCFD to the present 190MMCFD. In recent years some of the prominent fields such as Zamzama, Mazarani and Haseeb have depleted, thus affecting the overall supply to Quetta and its surrounding areas. In spite of this depletion, SSGC has been able to supply 150MMCFD gas flow to Quetta, Pishin, Kalat and adjoining areas.
The company said that in order to cater to the requirement of Quetta, it was expecting an injection of 40MMCFD gas to its system 25MMCFD from the Zarghun field and 15MMCFD from the Jhal Magsi field.

Currently the SSGC is getting only 10MMCFD gas from Zarghun whereas the pipeline laying from OGDCL`s Jhal Magsi field has so far not materialised because of the law and order situation there.

The average gas supply projected from the Zarghun field was 25MMCFD but due to operational issues, field operators M/s Mari Petroleum Company Limited is supplying on average 10MMCFD gas, press release added.
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