ISLAMABAD: In response to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) announcement of a “massive crackdown” on gas theft in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, authorities in Islamabad wasted no time and apprehended over 30 individuals for the illegal use of gas.
SNGPL Managing Director Amir Tufail announced during a conference that the company is gearing up to launch large-scale operations in its service areas, namely Punjab and KP. These operations aim to crack down on gas pilferage, and Tufail emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to this issue.
When discussing the potential law and order challenges in oil and gas producing blocks, specifically in Karak and the surrounding regions of KP, Mr. Tufail highlighted that, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the federal government, the company has already achieved a 66 percent reduction in gas losses.
Over the past three years, field teams have conducted operations resulting in the identification of over 325,000 cases related to gas pilferage, amounting to Rs2.4 billion. Additionally, these teams have initiated 803 FIRs with various police stations in both provinces during this period.
Mr. Tufail noted significant progress in reducing Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) or line losses. The government had set a UFG reduction target of 18BCF for the 2019-2022 period, which the company not only met but exceeded by achieving a 23BCF reduction, translating to savings of approximately Rs12.5 billion.
Actions Against Gas Theft and Network Integrity
Furthermore, SNGPL has implemented cybersecurity measures, including the installation of cyber locks on suspicious industrial connections to detect tampering. Additionally, the company has addressed leakages across its extensive 87,000km-long network in the last three years.
As part of their zero-tolerance policy against gas theft, the company has taken disciplinary actions against 361 employees involved in dishonest practices, which have resulted in their termination, demotion, salary stoppage, and other punitive measures.
In response to a query, Mr. Tufail clarified that the decision to lift the ban on new connections would ultimately rest with the government of Pakistan.
Gas ‘thieves’ booked
In Islamabad, SNGPL has cracked down on gas theft, leading to over 30 arrests and significant fines imposed by the courts.
To eliminate line losses, a task force has been formed under the managing director’s guidance, focusing on Wah, Attock, Fatehjang, Taxila, Kahuta, and Murree.
Recent raids, accompanied by law enforcement, resulted in more arrests. The managing director has made a plea to the general public to actively assist the department in minimizing line losses by promptly reporting incidents of gas theft to SNGPL offices in their respective localities. Public support is critical not only for safeguarding a national asset but also ensuring the safety of neighboring communities.
