SSGC announces winter gas timings for households

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced a new gas supply schedule for domestic consumers during the winter season, restricting availability to three designated periods daily to ensure households can meet their cooking needs.

Under the schedule, gas will be available to domestic consumers from 6:30am to 9am, 12pm to 2:30pm and 6pm to 9pm.

The company said the decision was taken in accordance with federal government directives, with priority given to household consumers during peak cooking hours. The arrangement aims to manage available gas supplies amid increasing demand during the colder months.

Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has also introduced gas load management for domestic consumers in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Under the restrictions, households in these areas will receive gas during the same three daily time slots: morning, afternoon and evening. The move comes as declining liquefied natural gas (LNG) availability and rising winter consumption put additional pressure on the country’s gas distribution system.

The supply situation has also affected commercial and industrial sectors. SNGPL has reduced gas supplies to the compressed natural gas (CNG) sector from 50 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to 35 mmcfd. The company is also considering suspending supplies to the sector completely in the coming days.

The cement industry has already shifted to coal to meet its energy requirements, while industrial consumers connected to the gas distribution network are also facing supply cuts.

Industries directly connected to the transmission network, including export-oriented and non-export sectors, are currently receiving around 200 mmcfd of gas. However, further reductions may be introduced depending on the availability of supplies.

The power sector is receiving approximately 140 mmcfd, while the fertiliser industry is being supplied around 53 mmcfd.

The government is prioritising domestic consumers during the winter season as authorities attempt to manage limited gas resources and maintain supplies for essential household needs.