PESHAWAR: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited said here on Sunday that work on laying 25km pipeline as part of 16 augmentation projects in different parts of Peshawar city would soon be started to address the problem of low gas pressure.

In a statement issued here, SNGPL KP general manager Taj Ali Khan said that pipelines of different diameters would be laid to address the low gas pressure issue in Kamboah, Nishtarabad, Safiabad, Defence, Nauthia Jadeed, Charkhakhel, Shami Road, Pajaggi Road, Tehkal Payan and Bala areas of the provincial capital besides Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat districts.

He said that in winter the gap between demand and supply increased and consumers in pockets falling at the tail end of supply network faced lower gas pressure. However, the SNGPL Peshawar region is committed to ensuring supply to all the consumers at optimum pressure, he said.

Says 25km pipeline to be laid in the city

Mr Khan said that SNGPL had recently commissioned a 16km long pipeline of 12-inch diameter in operational phase for the Peshawar city, cantonment and areas falling on Charsadda Road and Warsak Road of the provincial capital.

He said gas pressure issue of all the consumers in these areas had been resolved due to commissioning of this line.

“SNGPL has also replaced 70km old/leaking gas pipeline networks during last fiscal year and work is in progress for replacement of 80km old/leaking pipelines inside Peshawar city, Dalazak Road and Charsadda Road,” he said.

The SNGPL KP general manager said that low gas pressure in the mentioned areas of Peshawar would be permanently rectified following completion of the ongoing projects.

He said that at present they were striving to ensure proper gas supply during cooking hours.

He said the utility had started operations against illegal gas connections jointly with the provincial government in suburbs of Peshawar, including Sarband, Achini, Bazidkhel, Kagawala, Marozai, Ahmadkhel, Badhber, Sheikhan, Dir Colony, Hazar Khwani, Urmar, Phandu, Surezai and other areas of Peshawar wherein direct connections were removed and FIRs registered against the culprits.

He said this campaign against illegal connections would help in provision of proper gas supply to consumers paying their bills.

Mr Khan said that currently KP’s gas production stood at 400mmcf a day compared to the demand of 350mmcf a day. However, he said, the demand outstripped the supply at peak hours of morning and evening.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2021