Gas utilities seek up to 237pc hike in tariffs

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) have demanded up to 237 per cent increase in natural gas rates to generate about Rs660 billion in additional funds during the current fiscal year.

In separate tariff petitions to the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Lahore-based SNGPL on Tuesday sought an increase of Rs1,294 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) or 237pc while the Karachi-based SSGCL demanded Rs668 per unit or 96pc hike to meet their revenue requirements for 2022-23.

The average gas price demanded by SNGPL, thus, would cross Rs1,840 per unit from the existing rate of Rs546 per mmBtu while that of SSGCL would go beyond Rs1,360 per unit from the current Rs693 per mmBtu.

SNGPL has projected a shortfall in its revenue requirement for FY23 at Rs178.814bn including Rs445m on account of LPG air-mix projects.

For this head, the company that supplies natural gas and regasified liquefied natural gas to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sought an increase in its average prescribed price by Rs448 per unit with effect from July 1. Ogra convenes public hearings on Nov15 and 21.