ISLAMABAD – In a move to prevent gas theft and bring down UFG (UnaccountedFor Gas) ratio, the government is planning to establish special policestations at all regions of Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL) and SuiSouthern Gas Company (SSGC).“One police station at each gas region will be set up with the help ofprovincial governments to prevent the commodity theft and take actionagainst the pilferers,” official sources told APP.Under the UFG reduction strategy, the sources said the companies were alsoestablishing Control Gas Theft Operation Departments in line with “GasTheft Control and Recovery Act 2016,” which empowers them to seek prisonterm of up to 14 years and penalty of up to Rs10 million from those foundstealing gas.The two utilities may even request services of paramilitary forces,including the Rangers, to curb gas theft and arrest culprits.The sources said the SNGPL and SSGC suffered 11 percent & 13 percent UFGlosses amounting to Rs 22 billion and Rs 26 billion respectively due towrong strategy of the previous government. During the last five years, UFGlosses registered one percent increase every year, which caused Rs 154 lossto both the companies and increase in the gas tariff, they added.Now, the companies have been given the target to reduce the UFG losses byone percent every year, for which they would they would have completesupport of law enforcement departments under the law.They said gas theft, law and order affected areas, minimum billing,leakages, measuring errors and shift of bulk sales to retail sector wereamong the major UFG contributing factors.The UFG, they said, being one of the most critical elements in the gassector, played a vital role in the profitability of the gas transmissionand distribution companies.In reply to another question, the sources said the government and gasutility companies were taking necessary steps to prevent gas losses.They said the government had promulgated the Gas (Theft Control & Recovery)Ordinance, 2016 and involved law enforcement agencies to prevent gas theft.Now, Federal Investigation Teams are engaged with gas utility companies tocarry out raids against gas thieves.
The gas companies are also creating awareness among the general publicthrough newspapers about wastage of the commodity besides warning thepilferers.The sources said almost all Industrial customers had been ‘Cyber Locked’ byrestricting unauthorized access to the Customer Meter Stations and allowingentry to authorized personnel only. Besides, Electronic Volume Correctorshave been installed at almost all the industries for strict check andbalance on gas consumption and abnormalities, they added.
