Due to the annual depletion of indigenous gas reservoirs, SSGC has been experiencing gas shortages in its system. Since FY 2017–18 the gas supplies have been reduced by 55% (1192 MMSCFD in FY-2017-18 to current 660 MMSCFD) in SSGC’s allocated gas fields and subsequently 535 MMCFD of gas depletion has been observed during the past eight years. The year-wise gas supplies and depletion rates can be seen in the chart above.
According to the load management plan approved by ECC, the domestic and industrial sectors are given priority. There is no gas load shedding in SSGC’s franchise area of Sindh and Balochistan, especially in the domestic industry. However, as part of the gas load management strategy (in line with internationally implemented practices), a night-time gas closure/pressure profiling from 10:00 pm to 05:00 am is being implemented in the domestic sector to maintain line-packs for the subsequent day. This also helps manage and consume the saved volumes of indigenous natural gas during peak consumption hours. In the depleting indigenous gas scenarios, SSGC’s management is continuously striving to supply the optimum required volumes of gas to its domestic customers, especially during the cooking hours, including those located at the tail-end of the company’s distribution network.
It may be noted that, under the prevailing Natural Gas Allocation and Management Policy, the domestic and industrial sectors are prioritised over the CNG sector. Presently, the maximum consumption of the CNG sector is only 2-3 MMSCFD of RLNG in SSGC’s franchise area. The CNG sector has no share in the volumes of the above-mentioned indigenous gas supplies and is also prone to weekly gas closures during the winter season.
In order to improve the quality of service to its customers and to address the issues of low gas pressures, SSGC has undertaken an extensive rehabilitation program of its pipeline distribution network across its franchise area, while prioritising older colonies and those areas that are situated at the tail-end of its distribution network. Over the last three (03) years, SSGC has completed rehabilitation of distribution networks totalling over 6,000 kilometres in Karachi and other cities and towns in Upper Sindh, with a plan to execute another 5,000 kilometres of rehabilitation in the next two (02) years.
Looking ahead, SSGC is actively working with companies engaged in the Exploration and Production of Oil and Gas in its franchise area to address the massive depletion that occurred over the last few years and to supply adequate volumes of natural gas to all sectors in the years to come.
SSGC’s agile technical teams remain mobilised 24/7 to address any isolated supply-related issue. However, customers in any particular area who are not attended to by SSGC’s team for complaints regarding gas supply / low-pressure issues can contact SSGC’s 24/7 operational contact centre by dialling 1199. They can also lodge their complaint through SSGC’s Mobile App, SSGC Customer Connect, or by visiting our nearest Customers’ Facilitation Centres, Regional / Zonal Offices, and Head Office.
