The year was 1969. The then Karachi Gas Company published a print advertisement that proclaimed, ‘Sui Gas is always there whenever you need it. All you have to do is to turn on your tap and you get instant, smokeless fuel with an inexhaustible (gas) supply.’ Fast forward to 2022 and we find ourselves in a middle of a totally different energy scenario. We no longer have an inexhaustible gas supply. Gas supply in Pakistan has declined over the years due to the natural depletion of fields that are owned by exploration and production companies. Every year, gas is being depleted at a rate of nearly 10%, resulting in a widening demand and supply gap, compounded also by the fact that there has been no meaningful gas discoveries of late. The gas crunch is felt most during winter seasons when space and water heating needs increase manifold. Summers have also become tough even though gas utilities effectively manage load so as to make the fuel available to the customers.
Alternative route
SSGC (Southern Sui Gas Company) has always been mindful of the fact that in the wake of declining reserves, the presence of alternative fuels such as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is vital for fulfilling growing consumer needs.
Discovered in 1912 by Dr. Walter Snelling, an American chemist, LPG is a reliable, secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy resource. Against the backdrop of dwindling gas reserves, SSGC-LPG (Pvt.) Limited (SLL), SSGC’s wholly-owned subsidiary company, prevoiously Sui Gas, that has been in the business of marketing and distributing LPG since 2011, is encouraging customers to purchase imported LPG cylinders to overcome impending gas shortages and meet their cooking and heating needs without any difficulty.
SLL is operating a dedicated open-access LPG Terminal with storage facilities at Port Qasim in Karachi to efficiently handle LPG imports. In line with the directives of the Ministry of Petroleum, SLL brought the largest LPG vessel into Pakistan last November with a consignment of 9,375 metric tons. The Company has also increased its terminal utilization to 80 percent and is in the process of opening up new outlets and upgrading its network to make the fuel available all around.
Why LPG?
Over the years LPG has proved to be an excellent option for our households on account of three main reasons. Firstly, it is a more-calorific valued, energy-efficient fuel that undergoes complete combustion, creating no residue in the process. Secondly, it is a fuel with low emissions, low Sulphur content, and more energy value than other fuels, and third, it can be stored in cylinders for longer time periods without any spillage that makes it accessible to the customers.
Strong USPs
But why SLL cylinders? SLL delivers energy-efficient cylinders that provide a much superior quality LPG than local competitors. SLL cylinders are quite affordable and more economical than the market price as they are marketed at OGRA’s determined rate. These cylinders are lightweight, non-corrosive, environment-friendly, refillable with guaranteed full quantity and are available in various sizes.
Ensuring speedy delivery
Necessity and adaptability are cornerstones in every crisis situation. From a distribution point of view, SLL has channelized its energies to ensure quick delivery of LPG to customer’s doorsteps, with every user having a facility of placing orders online through www.ssgclpg.com.pk/order or by calling SSGC’s 24/7 helpline 1199. The Company only recently opened a facilitation center for its customers in DHA Karachi to ensure the easy availability of LPG.
Diversification
To enhance its value proposition, SSGC is promoting business diversification through SSGC-Alternative Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. Already the focus has been on shoring up alternative supplies through the following strategies:
- Bringing Unallocated Gases to Consumers on competitive terms
- Nitrogen Production for optimization of gas specifications in exchange for natural gas for intelligent utilization
- Purchase of Biogas/ Biomethane (RNG) – BOO Model
- Power Generation at SMSs – Pressure Harnessing Method
- Production and Sale of Renewable Hydrogen – Green Fuel
- Power Generation from Waste – WHRS Method
- Coal to Gas (C2G) and Coal to Liquid (C2L)
Energy companies are cognizant of the fact that merely relying on non-renewable resources such as gas, coal and petroleum is not viable enough. It is important for them to invest in alternative supplies to enhance the accessibility and sustainability of their network to deliver cost efficiency and effectiveness.
The author is A/DGM, Corporate Communications, SSGC