CCoE vows to ensure gas supply to CPEC projects

Islamabad: Pakistani Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has vowed to ensure gas supply to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The meeting presided over by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar here was informed that the prudent pressure management plan would also be developed to ensure the stable supply of gas to the consumers.

To compressively review the situation and available options, the CCoE formed a Sub-Committee under Special Assistant to Prime Minister on (SAPM) China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Khalid Mansoor including Member Energy Planning Commission, Secretary Petroleum, and Secretary Power. The sub-Committee will submit its proposals to the CCOE within two weeks, said an official statement.

The CCoE also reviewed the monthly report submitted Power Division on the out of merit power plant operations due to network constraints. The committee was assured that a constraint removal plan for the encountered issues is already under implementation.

The meeting was told that the enhanced demand of domestic consumers would be met through savings from captive power generation.

The Petroleum Division presented the projected natural gas supply and demand position in the country for the coming winter.

During the meeting, Petroleum Division presented a detailed impact analysis of different policy options for the management of gas demand during winter 2021-22.

The meeting decided that the gas supply to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations would be curtailed during the winters and industrial activity would also be a focus in the gas management plans, especially the export industry.

The CCoE approved the demand side of the proposals submitted by the Petroleum Division. It was further directed that the CCoE would consider the supply side proposals in the next meeting.

The CCoE also considered the summary presented by the Maritime Affairs Division on the construction of Oil Storage at Oil Installation Area Keamari, Karachi.

The meeting was informed that insufficient storage infrastructure at the ports created a bottleneck in the supply chain and results in increased costs.

The meeting was attended by Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Energy Omer Ayub Khan, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz, Minister for Railways Azam Swati, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Industries Razzaq Dawood, SAPM on CPEC Khalid Mansoor and other senior officials.