ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has ordered advance preparations for winter gas management, with domestic consumers to receive priority from local gas supplies while RLNG will be prioritised for power generation and industrial requirements.
The prime minister chaired a meeting on winter gas load management, during which officials briefed him on gas demand and supply and the measures being taken to manage the expected winter requirements.
Under the proposed supply strategy, locally produced gas will be prioritised for household consumers during the winter season.
RLNG, meanwhile, will be prioritised for meeting the requirements of the power generation and industrial sectors.
The authorities will also launch a public awareness campaign to promote the use of alternative energy sources at the household level instead of local gas for certain applications.
The strategy is aimed at managing available gas supplies more effectively during the winter, when demand typically rises because of heating and other household requirements.
The meeting was also informed that steps were being taken to ensure uninterrupted transmission of gas from reserves in the northern areas of the country.
Against the backdrop of the prevailing regional situation, the prime minister directed the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted gas imports.
The meeting also considered a proposal for introducing bank financing facilities to encourage the use of electricity-powered appliances for water and space heating.
The proposed financing facility could facilitate consumers in shifting some heating requirements from gas to electricity, potentially easing pressure on local gas supplies during peak winter demand.
The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to prepare a comprehensive winter gas load management plan and ensure that necessary measures are completed ahead of the season.
The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, the prime minister’s adviser on industries, the minister of state for finance and railways and senior government officials.
The government’s approach seeks to balance the supply requirements of households with the needs of power generation and industry while preparing for possible challenges to imported gas supplies.
