Sui-Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui-Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) have provided a total 1.39 million new gas connections during the last four years due to political compulsions and in defiance of economic compulsions, it is learnt.

According to sources in the Petroleum Ministry, despite the fact that the country remained in the grip of serious energy crisis, which forced major textile industries to shift their plants to other countries especially Bangladesh, both gas utility companies over the past four years inexplicably provided 1.368 million domestic, 19,323 commercial and 2,558 industrial gas connections.

Sources said that SNGPL which was facing a more serious gas shortage provided 0.97 million domestic gas connections, 13,379 commercial and 1,693 industrial connections, while SSGCL over the four years provided 0.397 million domestic gas connections, 5,944 commercial and 865 industrial gas connections.

The SNGPL has laid 15,200 kilometres of pipelines during three years 2008-11 against a total planned network of 25,640 kilometres.

According to official documents available with Business Recorder, the company has completed 1,682 schemes so far, while work is in progress on 1,110 schemes. The company is also procuring engineering drawings and material for an additional 458 schemes.

During the past four years (2008-12) SNGPL has supplied gas to five District Headquarters (DHQs) Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Narowal, D G Khan and Hangu. In addition it has supplied gas to 14 Tehsil Headquarters (THQs), 38 new towns and 955 new villages have been connected to gas network.

SNGPL's 2,189 schemes received Rs 32.71 billion from March 2008 to date under PWP-II and 16,100 kilometres of supply network is required for their completion: 1,061 schemes worth Rs 7.513 billion was transferred to sitting parliamentarians from KPP-II involving 9,540 Km network to be laid for their completion. The above 3,250 schemes worth Rs 40.22 billion required SNGPL to bear the cost of Rs 27.187 billion whereas Rs 13.036 billion was allocated by GoP.

The SNGPL's per annum capacity is to lay up to 5,000kms of pipeline, while SSGCL during the same period has so far undertaken schemes worth Rs 2.9 billion for providing natural gas to different towns and villages, the sources said.

By laying 823km of various diametres of pipelines the SSGC completed the schemes in 340 towns and villages at a total cost of Rs 1.89 billion. The work on another 95 schemes worth Rs 780 million is expected to be completed by March 2012, while the remaining schemes worth Rs 230 million, will be executed during the period of January to June this year.

RECORDER REPORT.