SNGPL, SSGC Detect 58,905 Gas Theft Cases In First Quarter Of 2020-21

The two state-owned companies, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), have collectively identified as many as 58,905 gas theft cases in industrial, commercial and domestic sectors during the first quarter of 2020-21, under the government's three-year UFG reduction plan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2021 ) :The two state-owned companies, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), have collectively identified as many as 58,905 gas theft cases in industrial, commercial and domestic sectors during the first quarter of 2020-21, under the government's three-year UFG reduction plan.

"The SSGC has detected 495 theft cases in industrial and commercial sectors, around 42,817 in domestic side and 243 pilferages by non-registered consumers, while the SNGPL identified 11 theft cases in the industrial sector, 886 in the commercial sector, 14,410 in the domestic sector and 43 pilferages by non-registered consumers," according to an official document available with APP.

During the period under review, the utilities made steady progress in reducing the Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) ratio by capping on the losses of around 2,476 MMCF gas against the target of 3,976 MMCF gas set for the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

The SNGPL performed well as it reduced 1,567 MMCF gas losses exceeding the target of 1,425 MMCF (Million Cubic Feet) gas, while the SSGC saved 909 MMCF gas against the target of 2,551MMCF gas.

"The SSGC could not meet the targeted reduction owing to the ongoing activity of the network segmentation and rehabilitation of old leaking pipelines," a senior official privy to petroleum sector development told this scribe.

However, he said, the company had been advised to expedite its efforts to ensure meeting the yearly targets.

Overall, the official said, the government had given the two companies a target of reducing the UFG by 13.

55 per cent (58,869 MMCF gas) during a three-year period from 2019-2020 to 2021-22.

In 2019-20, the SNGPL and SSGC had prevented a volumetric loss of around 9,938 MMCF gas against the UFG reduction target of 14,806 MMCF gas.

The UFG, he said, was a phenomenon of gas loss that occurred due to various technical factors when gas flowed from fields to end consumers.

"It is calculated as the difference between metered gas volume injected into the transmission and distribution network (Point of Dispatch/Delivery) and the metered gas delivered to the end consumers (Consumer Meter Station)�during a financial year," he elaborated.

In line with the government strategy to reduce line loss, he said, the gas companies were taking all possible measures to bring down the UFG ratio gradually in the coming years.

Under the strategy, the official said, inspection of all industrial, commercial and domestic consumers was being carried out regularly to prevent gas theft by taking prompt action against unauthorized connections and illegal networks.

The UFG, the official said, being one of the most critical elements in the gas sector, played a critical role in reducing the profitability of the gas transmission and distribution companies.

The official said almost all industrial customers had been 'Cyber Locked' by restricting unauthorized access to the customer meter stations and allowing entry to authorized personnel only.

Besides, he said, Electronic Volume Correctors had been installed at almost all the industries for strict check and balance on gas consumption and abnormalities.

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