Islamabad News

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Islamabad Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Resources has evolved natural gas load management plan to avert natural gas shortage during winter season. The plan will be approved in the meeting of Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) taking place on November 4. Under this plan it has been proposed that all industrial consumers will keep their industrial units closed on every alternate day so that uninterrupted supply to domestic and commercial consumers may be ensured during winter season. Petroleum ministry sources expressed fear if the industrial consumers did not accept the proposal of observing alternate day closure of units then the country could face gas shortage by 40 per cent during the winter season particularly in the months of December, January and February. It will also impact the domestic and commercial consumers. However final decision with respect to load management plan will be taken in the meeting of ECC to be held on November 4, under the prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. The domestic and commercial consumers have been given preference to industrial consumers in the plan so that the possible shortage of 1.8 billion cubic feet daily could be avoided. Sources told gas reservoirs to the tune of 1.8 billion cubic feet per day would be available in the country during winter season and demand was likely to register increase by 2.5 billion cubic feet daily.