The gas crisis seems to have worsened in Karachi as the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) halted gas supply to industries across the city, The News reported Monday.
“In adherence to the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) gas load management plan, that places domestic and commercial customers on top of the priority list, it has been decided to suspend gas supply to all general industries from November 15 to February 28, 2023,” a statement issued by the gas company read.
The decision, according to the statement, is intended to accommodate the rising demand from domestic customers in Sindh and Balochistan. It should be remembered that, due to a gas shortage, all CNG stations in Sindh have already been closed for two and a half months.
The SSGC delivered notices last week that gas will be shut off for more than three months over the winter to the city’s industries, but they rejected the notices, claiming that gas shortages would result in large layoffs and the closing of firms.
“The industries are in a state of shock to receive SSGCL’s notices of gas closure starting from November 15, 2022, to February 28, 2023,” the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and seven other industrial town associations said in a joint statement.
“The gas closures can not be proved good for the economy, especially this year, as no special arrangements have been made by the government to purchase RLNG to inject in the system.”
