By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: In a significant move aimed at managing the country’s gas supply during the winter months, the government has announced the closure of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations nationwide throughout December and January. This decision, reported by local news outlets, is part of the Ministry of Petroleum’s broader gas load management strategy intended to ensure uninterrupted natural gas availability for domestic consumers during peak winter demand.
Officials have indicated that not only will CNG stations be shut down, but industries that depend on gas for electricity generation will also experience interruptions in their gas supply during this period. These industries will need to rely on electricity from utility companies, as gas will be redirected to meet the heating needs of households. The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has been tasked with implementing the closure, with orders to disconnect gas supplies to CNG stations from December 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
During a meeting led by Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, it was revealed that the annual production of natural gas is declining by approximately five percent, necessitating these load management measures. Despite ongoing gas production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which is comparable to levels in Sindh, the government has decided to maintain the closure of CNG stations in both provinces during these critical months. Earlier this year, the federal government requested assistance from the K-P administration to help enforce this Winter Gas Load Management Plan, especially after the Peshawar administration initially resisted suspending natural gas supplies to CNG stations.
