QUETTA: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced a 24-hour suspension of gas supply to all industries across its network this Sunday, citing a severe system pressure drop due to intensifying cold weather.
In an official statement, the utility’s spokesperson said the suspension will be in effect from 8:00 AM on Sunday, January 11, until 8:00 AM on Monday. The decision is attributed to a critical “line pack and pressure drop in the system,” driven by a significant surge in domestic consumption as temperatures plunge.
“The first priority, according to the law, is domestic and commercial consumers,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing the need to conserve limited pipeline gas for households and essential commercial users. This marks the second consecutive Sunday that industries will face a full-day gas closure, following a similar shutdown last week.
The move underscores the severity of the annual winter gas crisis. SSGC has already been enforcing a nightly curtailment, cutting off supply to domestic and commercial users from 9:30 PM to 6:00 AM to manage dwindling reserves. The repeated shutdowns highlight the chronic shortage of natural gas in the country and its severe impact on industrial productivity, forcing factories to either halt operations or seek costly alternative fuels.
The company has urged all consumers to use gas judiciously during the peak winter period to help stabilize the national grid.
