Senate panel questions gas priority for private LPG producer JJVL over public power plant amid shortages

Profit by Pakistan Today reported that the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum questioned on Thursday why private LPG producer Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) still receives domestic gas while a state-owned power station faces shortages. The panel asked Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for details of the arrangement, its renewal, dues and supply volumes. Senator Saifullah Abro alleged that JJVL kept getting state support despite gas shortages elsewhere, and claimed some power plants were shut to support its revival.

Separately, the panel took up claims that oil marketing companies (OMCs) received customs concessions but avoided about Rs23 billion in tax. It also raised a pending FIA probe into alleged excess profits by OMCs on stocks held before the March fuel price jump. Lawmakers further questioned salaries left unpaid for 22 months at ENAR Petrotec and delays in merging it with OGDC. Officials admitted some staff had not been paid, and the committee warned it would approach authorities if dues stayed unpaid.

Abro argued that the pricing formula does not adequately capture local oil and gas output. Officials said domestic crude output is 64,000 barrels a day, and that Pakistan imports nine million tonnes a year, while local output meets 30% of petrol needs and 70% of diesel needs. They added that diesel imports had stopped after June owing to worldwide shortages, which pushed up crude imports.