KARACHI: The gas crisis in Karachi seems to be getting worse as Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) stopped the supply of gas to industries across the city.
“Following the gas load management plan of the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), which puts domestic and commercial consumers at the top of the priority list, it has been decided to suspend gas supply to all general industries from November 15 to February 28, 2023. has been done ” read a statement issued by the gas company.
The statement added that the decision is aimed at meeting the growing demand of domestic consumers in Sindh and Balochistan.
It should also be noted that all CNG (compressed natural gas) stations in Sindh have been closed for two and a half months due to gas shortage.
Last week, the SSGC had sent notices to industries in the city to shut off gas for more than three months in winter, which they rejected saying that the gas shutdown would lead to massive layoffs and business closures. will
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and seven other industrial town associations said in a joint statement, “Industries are in a state of shock after receiving the gas shutdown notice from SSGCL from 15 November 2022 to 28 February 2023. ” Statement
“Gas outages may not augur well for the economy, especially this year, as the government has not made any specific arrangements to buy RLNG to inject into the system.”
The KCCI-constituted committee said it expected the government to take appropriate steps to ensure gas supply to city industries instead of a complete gas shutdown, which would boost exports and revenues. There will be massive downsizing, industry closures and retrenchments.
According to KCCI, their committee had given the idea to the government to shut down gas supply for 12 hours twice a week in winter.
