Gas transmission network becomes vulnerable as pressure reaches 5.228bcf

ISLAMABAD: The gas line pack pressure continues to oscillate in the range of 5.12 to 5.228bcf, higher than highly danger mark of 5bcf in the last five days.

Senior officials of the Energy Ministry told The News the high pressure has made national gas transmission network across the country vulnerable, as imported gas consumption by the power sector has tumbled.

Officials said, “When pressure in the system reaches 5bcf, it can burst anytime, depriving the whole country of gas availability. The power plants, industry, commercial, fertilizer sector and business outlets running on local and imported gas would come to a standstill.”

They said LNG infrastructure, including two RLNG terminals, RLNG pipelines with two-long term agreements with Qatar and one term agreement with ENI, was erected mainly for 4,800 MW RLNG-based power plants set up in Punjab. But these power plants are not being run at their optimum level.

They said plants were constructed with the narrative these would generate cheaper electricity, as they have over 62 percent efficiency. Now, these plants are generating costly electricity as their fuel cost is at a higher side.

The SNGPL says the power sector is continuously consuming less RLNG against the allocation. This situation has led to high system pack/pressures across the entire transmission network. Mitigation steps are being taken accordingly.

The Sui Northern says the Power Division has reduced gas outflows from local gas fields by 200mmcf per day from November 13. Even then line pack pressure is not being reduced as power sector has further reduced the intake of imported gas for power generation to just 170mmcf.

Officials said they have dispatched many letters to the Petroleum Division, asking for approaching the Power Division to increase the use of imported gas in its four RLNG-based power plants. It would bring line pack pressure down as national gas network has become vulnerable.

The Power Division says electricity demand has reduced manifolds. It prefers to generate electricity as per the Economic Merit Order under which those power plants are run that are cheapest in terms of generating electricity.

“We first get electricity from power plants connected with local gas, then nuclear power plants, hydropower plants and renewable power plants. And if electricity demand is not met, the system runs RLNG power plants, depending upon demand of electricity,” Power Division officials said. The winter season has set in and electricity demand has reduced to 12,000-13,000 MW in the country.

More importantly, electricity generated by the RLNG power plants is costlier, as its fuel cost is at the higher side at Rs26 per unit. If power generation is ensured by RLNG power plants, the basket price would increase manifolds.

The SNGPL hopes line pack pressure will start tumbling by the end of the current month when mercury further goes down and the masses start using gas for heating purposes. The LNG regasification from Terminal-2 (PGPCL) has been suspended since 1250 hrs on Nov 16 due to maintenance activity for about 72 hrs. Even then, line pressure stands at 5.118bcf, which is above the dangerous mark of 5bcf.

The latest line pack pressure data available with The News says gas pressure on Sunday (Nov 17) was recorded at 5166mmcf as compared to yesterday’s 5228. The indigenous gas intake by the system has reduced to 558mmcf, which was at 749 on November 12.

Consumption in the fertilizer sector was registered at 92mmcf as compared to yesterday’s 91mmcf. However, export and non-export industry is using 310mmcf gas.