AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, August 20, 2015 (PPI-OT): Central leader of the Businessman Panel and former vice president FPCCI Khurram Sayeed on Thursday said powerful Captive Power Plants (CPPs) lobby continue to wasting gas worth Rs75 billion annually which is adding to the energy crisis in Pakistan.
The government seems helpless as the powerful lobby which has been getting natural gas on dirt cheap prices since last seven years without any policy and against Ogra and Nepra is enjoying unprecedented influence, he said.
He said that those who are getting natural gas on highly discounted rates in comparison to furnace oil are being patronized despite the opposition by Planning Commission and ministry of water and power. Four federal secretaries have been removed in the past for opposing provision of gas to primitive private power plants which has terrified the entire energy bureaucracy, he noted.
Khurram Sayeed said that the minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources in the former regime altered gas provision priority list for three times within twenty days illegally without the consent of concerned institutions including Council of Common Interests to please the lobby.
Gas load management policy available on SNGPL clearly indicates that masses are on the top of the priority list while CPPs are at the bottom which was violated by the former government while incumbent government seems unconcerned. Laws clearly indicate the CPPs can get gas when it is surplus, its usage remains within 1 mmcfd and the owner of any CPP invests minimum of Rs500 million.
Not only all these conditions are being violated but some owners of the primitive CPPs have closed down their units while selling electricity to others to gain on the cost of country and distribute spoils with government officials.
Sources said that the situation warrants action which has been put on the backburner since long which is increasing plight of masses and budget deficit resulting in severe energy crunch. It may be mentioned that government figures reveal the number of CPPs at 113 which are getting 450 mmcfd gas daily to waster 326 mmcfd which translated into annual loss of Rs75 billion.
For more information, contact:
Khurram Sayeed
Central Leader Businessman Panel of FPCCI
Former Vice President FPCCI
Cell: +92-314-6888888
Email: khurram.sayeed.pk@gmail.com