Blended Supply of Natural Gas & RLNG – Contravention of Article 158 of the Constitution of Pakistan

SSGC has issued circular [attached], whereby while referring to the letter dated December 14, 2023 issued by the Ministry of Energy, it has been stated that Effective from December 14, 2023 till June 30, 2023, SSGC will be blending Natural Gas and RLNG in the ratio of 80:20 for Industrial Consumer and 60:40 for Captive powers respectively for both Export and Non-Export consumers. 

Statement of SSGC appears to be contradictory of the actual situation of Gas shortage as the Province of Sindh Produces Natural Gas, which is far more than the total consumption of Natural Gas in Sindh, therefore, logically, there should not be any shortage. Experts are of the view that excess production in Sindh is being used to meet shortfall of Gas for Industries in Punjab. Moreover, consumers in Sindh are being charged RLNG, which in actual, is also being utilized by industries in Punjab. As per Article 158 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the province from where Gas is being produced, has the first of over that Gas.