ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is optimistic about ensuring smooth supply of gas to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the upcoming winter season after import of LNG.
“The gas situation is improving gradually especially after arrival of imported LNG and 84 new oil and gas discoveries. So, this winter, the supply will be better as comparing to previous years,” official sources told the state-run news agency on Monday.
However, they said the government was making all-out efforts to keep the gap between demand and supply of gas at the lowest level at peak of the winter season, adding that the load management would also be observed on need basis.
Answering a question, they informed that currently uninterrupted gas supply was being made to domestic, commercial, industrial, power, fertilizer and CNG sectors.
Commenting on oil and gas exploration activities, they said the oil and gas exploration companies operating in different parts of the country made 84 discoveries during last three years.
Following which, around 631 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas and 27,359 barrels per day (bpd) Crude Oil production has been added to the system, the sources added.
Replying to a question, they said imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was playing a major role in meeting the energy needs as regular shipments of the commodity were arriving after Pakistan signed the LNG import agreement with Qatar last year.
The government, the sources said, had initiated different gas related projects worth Rs 800 billion to steer the country out of energy crisis and “By the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan will have surplus power due to effective policies of the present government by 2018.”
Meanwhile, a representative of All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association (APCNGA) expressed confidence that the CNG sector, affected due to gas shortage, will fully revive with increased import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Answering a question, he admitted that presently CNG sector was not attracting motorists as they were still uncertain about its future but expressed confidence that “future will be of the inexpensive and environment-friendly fuel, which is almost 30 percent economical than petrol at the existing rates.”
Currently, he said, more than 3,416 CNG stations were operational in the country fulfilling the fuel need of the gas-run vehicles.
