Gas Prices To Go Up
The government is planning to allow the producers either raise the gas tariff or suspend its supply to the CNG stations to reduce increasing consumption by the stations with a view to overcome the possible gas load shedding in upcoming winter.
The price of CNG would be increase by Rs 7 per kilogram if the government allow the gas supplying companies for increase in tariff to avert chances of its load shedding, Chairman CNG Station Owners Association (CNGOAP) Malik Khuda Bux said while briefing the newsmen about the impact of increase an in gas tariff or its suspension to the CNG stations at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Saturday.
He said according to government announced gas tariff, the industries are paying Rs 339/MMBTU, the trade relating companies are paying Rs 393/MMBTU and Rs 427/MMBTU for CNG operators, which is the highest among the three industries. The gas supplying companies had moved the summary to increase the tariff for CNG stations from Rs 427/MMBTU to Rs 490/MMBTU due to which the difference between petrol and CNG would remain Rs 2/kg, the chairman argued.
He said the federal government has advised to allow the producers to suspend the supply of gas to the CNG stations for the interim period of three months during winter season, which would hit hard the local industry. The statement of Managing Director (MD) Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL), Rasheed Lon for suspension of gas supply to the CNG station of Punjab and NWFP has caused discontent among the investors, he added.
