SSGC has intensified its efforts against the menace of gas theft through coordinated raids and prosecution as per Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Act 2016.
This was stated by Brigadier ( R) Mohammad Abuzar, DG (Security Services and Counter Gas Theft Control Operations-CGTO) SSGC during an awareness session held at KASBIT Institute of Technology. The session was an initiative of the gas utility which is aimed at bringing into fore natural gas related issues directly to its customers through discussion and dialogue.
In his presentation, DG (SS and CGTO) reiterated that since the inception of the Company’s CGTO Department in 2017, the Company has been constantly creating deterrence against gas theft, a major factor behind Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) or line losses. SSGC is doing so by effectively using the Operational, Prosecution and Intelligence wings of Counter Gas Theft Operations Department by conducting regular raids against domestic, commercial and industrial customers and then prosecuting the miscreants in accordance with Gas Act 2016.
The head of CGTO said that since the inception of his department, claims worth Rs. 3 billion have been raised against gas theft offenders and amount worth Rs. 2.5 billion have been recovered, with more than 100 persons convicted by the Gas Utility Courts especially set up for the purpose of prosecuting the wrong doers.
DG (SS and CGTO) also said that the Company also has a zero tolerance against industrial and domestic customers who use gas compressors at the expense of other customers in the vicinity, an act which is illegal, dangerous and unethical.
Earlier, in their speeches, SSGC’s Corporate Communications DGM / Incharge Salman A. Siddiqui and Chief Manager Syed Imran Ahmed dilated on the reasons behind the widening demand and supply of natural gas and the need for a concerted effort by both the Company and its customers to resolve to issue. In his remarks, Dr. Kashif Mehmood, Director, KASBIT acknowledged SSGC’s efforts to control the scourge of gas theft and lauded the Company to create awareness about gas related issues through awareness sessions.
