SSGC Chief Warns of Gas Supply Cuts Amid 50% Production Decline

News Desk

KARACHI: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced it will limit gas supply to domestic consumers to three meal times a day due to a significant decline in indigenous gas production over the past decade, according to Managing Director Muhammad Amin Rajput.

In an exclusive interview with Dawn, Rajput revealed that the country’s gas output has plummeted by approximately 50% over the last ten years, with current availability dropping to around 605 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), down from 695 mmcfd last year.

He noted that around 300 mmcfd is now allocated to domestic use, while the remainder is distributed to industrial, power, and fertilizer sectors.

The situation has been exacerbated by difficulties in securing imported LNG supplies since April, attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

This drastic reduction in gas availability poses serious implications for households and industries alike, as the SSGC’s new supply schedule aims to prioritize cooking hours to ensure that families receive gas when they need it most.

Rajput emphasized that the utility has been closely monitoring gas availability and is committed to protecting domestic consumers during these challenging times.

Looking ahead, the SSGC is expected to continue its assessment of gas supply and may implement further measures if the situation does not improve.

The company is also exploring options to enhance its LNG imports to stabilize supply for both domestic and industrial consumers.