342 units get industrial gas links
After a six-year hiatus, a total of 342 industrial units has received new industrial gas connections and granted an additional load of the fuel, even though most consumers are facing a shortfall of 500600 mmcfd of natural gas. A total of 191 applicants has been given new gas connections and 151 applications have been cleared so that their existing boiler loads can be enhanced. This is the first time that a special committee formed by the government, led by Prime Ministers power and energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, decided to allow new industrial gas connections. The government is now rationing gas supplies because of the shortage of around 600 mmcfd of gas against the demand for 3,200 mmcfd. On August 20, 2015, the high-level committee, led by Dr Chowdhury, approved the new connections, said Istiaque, a committee member. Some 2,300 applications for new connections, increases in gas flow (load expansion) and relocation of connections have been pending with the four state-run gas utility companies since July 2009.
