Govt Decides to Shut CNG Stations Nationwide in December and January
The government has decided to close CNG stations nationwide during the coldest months of December and January as part of its gas load management strategy. This decision aims to effectively manage gas supply during the peak winter season.
Announcement by the Ministry of Petroleum
The Ministry of Petroleum announced that CNG stations will be shut down during these months. This measure is intended to ensure a continuous supply of natural gas to domestic consumers, a local news outlet reported. Officials also stated that gas supply would be halted for industries that generate electricity from gas during this period.
Impact on Industries
Industries across all provinces relying on gas for electricity generation or operating captive power plants will face gas supply interruptions from December 2024 to January 2025. These industries will need to depend on electricity supplied by utility companies during this time. The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has been directed to issue orders for the shutdown of CNG stations and to disconnect their gas connections from December 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
Declining Natural Gas Production
During a meeting chaired by Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, it was noted that the annual production of natural gas is declining by five percent. This decline has prompted the government to implement gas load management. Despite ongoing gas production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which is comparable to Sindh, the decision has been made to keep CNG stations closed in both provinces throughout the first two months of winter.
Request for Cooperation from K-P Government
Earlier this year, the federal government requested the K-P government to assist SNGPL in implementing its Winter Gas Load Management Plan. This request followed the Peshawar administration’s refusal to cooperate in suspending natural gas supplies to CNG stations. SNGPL announced that CNG stations across K-P would be without gas for a month and urged local authorities to enforce this decision.
Urgent Letter to Provincial Authorities
A letter from the energy ministry to the provincial chief secretary emphasized the need to curtail supply to the CNG sector in K-P to prioritize household gas supply during the peak winter season. The letter underscored the urgency of suspending gas supply to the CNG sector to manage increased demand during “peak winters.” It warned that failing to implement this could lead to severe gas depletion and low pressure across the system, adversely affecting domestic gas supply amid the current cold wave.
Additional Reductions in Gas Supply
Moreover, the ministry noted that gas supply to the power sector would also be reduced due to slow river flows caused by prolonged dry weather. The cooperation of the provincial government is deemed essential for the effective execution of the Winter Gas Load Management Plan.
Public Frustration Over Gas Supply Suspension
The suspension of gas supply has led to frustration among the public, particularly affecting transport services reliant on gas. Many public transport vehicles have been off the roads as gas stations remain closed.
