KARACHI: SSGC gives prime importance to Balochistan and is committed towards ensuring that its customers residing in this province gets uninterrupted gas supply.

This was stated by Saeed Larik, SSGC’s ASGM (Distribution-North) while talking to the media persons at the formal launch of the Winter Safety Awareness Campaign held at the Regional Office, Quetta. The launch is an annual affair organized every winter in Quetta and is marked by a series of symposiums and media interactions that emphasize on safe and wise use of natural gas as well as communicate to the stakeholders about serious repercussions of gas theft.

While talking to the media Larik said that SSGC is all set to complete work on a 34-km, 24” dia. and 12” dia., 23-km line gas pipeline from Shikarpur to Jacobabad. The commissioning of this pipeline, to be built at a cost of Rs. 3.3 billion will help the Company inject 40mmcfd gas into Quetta and adjoining areas thus ensuring a marked improvement in overall gas supply, Larik said. He also informed the audience that SSGC is installing two compressors, one in Sibi and another in Shikarpur in order to ensure that flow of gas pressure is improved especially during winters.

Earlier, ASGM (Distribution-North) officially launched the Winter Safety Awareness Campaign by cutting a ribbon. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of media persons. Present on the occasion were Madni Siddiqui, DGM/Incharge (Distribution Balochistan Region), Shahbaz Islam, AGM (Corporate Communications), Mohammad Ali Gohar, Chief Manager (Media Relations), Shamshullah Kakar, Chief Manager (Customer Relations-Quetta), Safdar Hussain, Dy. Manager (Media Relations) and a large number of SSGC executives and staff.

Team SSGC participated in the launch by displaying colorful posters containing useful guidelines for using gas appliances safely and responsibly. A fleet of Company’s customer service vans carrying striking images of SSGC’s determination to uproot gas theft as well as visual messages about using gas safely during winters, were seen off by ASGM (Distribution-North) and SSGC team. The overall branding of these vans was carried out by SSGC’s Corporate Communication Department.

Talking to the media, ASGM (Distribution-North) reiterated that one of the main causes of UFG or line losses is natural gas theft which basically constitutes 50% of the total losses. He said that due to bitterly cold winters, consumption of gas increases manifold but instead of paying their bills, many users resort to gas theft which ultimately affects the Company’s financial position.

Larik added that in order to provide fuel to those areas that are far away from the distribution grid, SSGC is installing LPG-Air Mix Plants in Balochistan. One such plant located in Awaran is nearing completion and will handle a capacity of 50mmbtu per hour Synthetic Natural Gas. ASGM (D-North) further added that the positive outcome of the winter safety awareness campaign conducted every year is that the number of deaths from callous use of natural gas has fallen sharply in Quetta and adjoining areas of late. He observed that stakeholders including media have played an important role in decreasing the number of fatalities and hoped that such support will continue.—PR