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CNG prices to be fixed
ISLAMABAD - The government is likely to clip Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG) station owners’ wings by allowing
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to fix final
price of the natural gas for the end consumers.
Petroleum Ministry sources told The Nation that the
Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet, which
will meet in Lahore today (Tuesday), would ask OGRA
to play its role in CNG price determination for the
commercial users.
So far under a deregulation policy, OGRA, the national
petroleum regulatory body, prescribes a price for
the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern
Gas Pipelines Limited, companies engaged in gas transmission
and distribution business.
The sources said the government would constitute
a committee that would determine a pattern of fixing
the price for the end consumers. According to the
proposal, OGRA will review the gas prices after every
six months. “If OGRA can determine the price
of petrol and diesel for the end consumers, why not
for CNG”, said the sources.
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Pakistan tops in Asia with 1,450 CNG stations
RAWALPINDI, June 8: Pakistan has become the first in
Asia and third in world after Argentina and Brazil in
terms of housing over 1,450 CNG stations while 1,000
more are under construction and the sector has attracted
investment of Rs60 billion creating 60,000 jobs across
the county, reveals the Economic Survey launched here
on Friday.
It states that in 1999, there were only 62 CNG stations
in the country with only 60,000 CNG-converted vehicles
which increased to 1,450 in 2007 while the vehicles
using gas has switched over to 1.4 million to date
Major cities in the country including Karachi, Rawalpindi,
Hyderabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad
are rapidly phasing out diesel vehicles in favour
of CNG buses for intra-city transportation
The survey says that the government was boosting
CNG sector in a move to overcome vehicular pollution
and was encouraging gas sector as cleaner alternative
for improving ambient air quality.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has so
far issued more than 5,700 provisional licenses for
the establishment of CNG stations across the country
while the government is providing incentives regarding
purchasing of new CNG vehicles.
It says that the government’s millennium development
goal (MDG) target for number of vehicles using CNG
was 920,000 whereas the current figure was 1.4 million
and had achieved the target in advance.
Despite increasing the number of CNG stations across
the country, the content of sulphur in air due to
the use of high speed diesel was one per cent as against
the target of 0.5 to 0.25 set in the MDG for 2015.
The Economic Survey has also acknowledged that absence
of public transport service in major cities and the
increasing number of private cars was deteriorating
air quality and recommends proper transport service
for these cities. Elaborating the government’s
policies on environment, the survey reveals a horrific
situation of atmosphere in both urban and rural areas
of the country saying that the National Environment
Action Programme (NEAP) started in 2001 was aimed
at coping with these concerns. |
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Asia-Pacific region needs to develop energy resources
RAWALPINDI, April 5: The United Nations Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific, in a new report, says that the region would become selfsufficient in meeting its demand for energy if the abundant energy resources could be developed and shared optimally.
While ensuring that energy security is primarily a national concern, regional and sub-regional energy cooperation has good potential for supplementing national efforts. A strategic and collaborative policy at the regional and sub-regional levels could ensure a regional balance, says "Energy Security and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific." This report has been prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (Escap) prepared for its sixtyfourth session being held in Bangkok from 24-30 April.
In the face of the enormous energy demand that is projected for the future in order to maintain the sustainability of the region's dynamic economic growth, no strategic option could be considered complete without trans-boundary energy cooperation. Such cooperation would be needed in order to supplement national efforts in enhancing supply security and in managing energy demand in a more efficient way, emphasises the report.
Global energy demand is estimated to increase by 47 per cent in 25 years, with Asia and the Pacific accounting for almost 50 per cent of the total global energy demand in 2030. Under the baseline scenario, fossil fuels are expected to continue dominating the global energy system, representing almost 90 per cent of the total energy supply in 2030.
Of the total energy demand of 8.9 billion tons of oil equivalent in the region, coal is predicted to remain the main source of energy, followed by oil and natural gas, while nuclear and renewable sources of energy would account for slightly more than 10 per cent of the region's energy supply.
The report says the current energy infrastructure in most developing countries is grossly inadequate at worst and suboptimum at best, a situation which requires immediate attention, not only to the addition of new infrastructure, but also to the modernisation and improvement of the systems for bringing about efficiency in the production, pro cessing, transmission and distribution of energy.
The report estimates that $9 trillion financing would be needed for building new infrastructure or improving the existing structures; however, financing would be a key constraint. If a more sustainable scenario is considered for the period between 2006 and 2030, the investment figure would drop to $8.3 trillion, resulting in a savings of $766 billion.
rawalpindi, april 5: the united nations regional commission for asia and the pacific, in a new report, says that the region would become self- sufficient in meeting its demand for energy if the abundant ener- gy resources could be developed and shared optimally. while ensuring that energy se- curity is primarily a national con- cern, regional and sub-regional energy cooperation has good po- tential for supplementing nation- al efforts. a strategic and collab- orative policy at the regional and sub-regional levels could ensure a regional balance, says "energy security and sustainable development in asia and the pacific." this report has been prepared by the economic and social commission for asia and pacific (escap) prepared for its sixty- fourth session being held in bangkok from 24-30 april. in the face of the enormous energy demand that is projected for the future in order to main- tain the sustainability of the re- gion's dynamic economic growth, no strategic option could be considered complete without trans-boundary energy cooperation. such cooperation would be needed in order to sup- plement national efforts in en- hancing supply security and in managing energy demand in a more efficient way, emphasises the report. global energy demand is esti- mated to increase by 47 per cent in 25 years, with asia and the pacific accounting for almost 50 per cent of the total global ener- gy demand in 2030. under the baseline scenario, fossil fuels are expected to continue dominating the global energy system, repre- senting almost 90 per cent of the total energy supply in 2030. of the total energy demand of 8.9 billion tons of oil equivalent in the region, coal is predicted to remain the main source of ener- gy, followed by oil and natural gas, while nuclear and renewable sources of energy would account for slightly more than 10 per cent of the region's energy supply. the report says the current energy infrastructure in most de- veloping countries is grossly in- adequate at worst and subopti- mum at best, a situation which requires immediate attention, not only to the addition of new infrastructure, but also to the modernisation and improvement of the systems for bringing about efficiency in the production, pro- cessing, transmission and distri- bution of energy. the report estimates that $9 trillion financing would be nee- ded for building new infrastruc- ture or improving the existing structures; however, financing would be a key constraint. if a more sustainable scenario is con- sidered for the period between 2006 and 2030, the investment figure would drop to $8.3 trillion, resulting in a savings of $766 bil- lion
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CNG buses disappear in a haze
ISLAMABAD, April 20: A consortium which launched
a CNG bus service between the twin cities in February
with 10 buses has folded up the service in protest.
Dawn learnt on Sunday that the Midway Consortium has
informed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) that
it was no more interested in operating the service.
CDA sources said the owner of the consortium was interested
in setting up his own high-pressure gas stations for
his promised 300bus fleet and quit when the CDA refused.
It is said the consortium was pressed into launching
the service in haste because the CDA bosses wanted to
take credit for introducing CNG buses before a new elected
government took power.
With the bus service closing before really taking off,
the CDA bosses may lose face and the private consortium
the profits it would have looking for on its Rs2 billion
investment.
However the real losers will be tens of thousands low-income
people who have to commute between Islamabad and Rawalpindi
daily and were looking forward to a good bus service.
A senior CDA official said if the Midway Consortium
had been allowed to establish its own CNG stations,
it would have concentrated less on running the bus service
and more on running the filling stations.
However, the owner of the consortium, Shaikh Mureed
Hussain, said his bus service required special gas stations
as the CNG buses could not be filled at ordinary, low-pressure
gas stations.
“I had told CDA that I will suspend the bus service
if four or five big CNG stations were not established
in the capital city,” he said.
It takes 20 minutes to refill a bus at high-pressure
CNG station and four hours at ordinary stations, according
to him.
His present 10-bus fleet depended on a single high pressure
CNG station located near Pir Vadhai. That would be insufficient
for his planned 300-bus fleet and so the CDA had promised
to allow him construct a terminal for the Midway Consortium
in Sector I-11. But the CDA backed out on the promise,
he said.
The bus service was launched by the consortium and the
CDA jointly on February 11 without entering into a formal
agreement and providing necessary infrastructure.
According to the verbal understanding the firm was to
start the service with 50 buses, to be increased to
300 in three years.
islamabad, april 20: a con- sortium which launched a
cng bus service between the twin cities in february
with 10 buses has folded up the service in protest.
dawn learnt on sunday that the midway consortium has
informed the capital development authority (cda) that
it was no more interested in operating the service.
cda sources said the owner of the consortium was interested
in setting up his own high-pressure gas stations for
his promised 300- bus fleet and quit when the cda refused.
it is said the consortium was pressed into launching
the serv- ice in haste because the cda bosses wanted
to take credit for introducing cng buses before a new
elected government took power. with the bus service
closing before really taking off, the cda bosses may
lose face and the pri- vate consortium the profits it
would have looking for on its rs2 billion investment.
however the real losers will be tens of thousands low-income
people who have to commute between islamabad and rawalpindi
daily and were look- ing forward to a good bus service.
a senior cda official said if the midway consortium
had been allowed to establish its own cng stations,
it would have con- centrated less on running the bus
service and more on running the filling stations. however,
the owner of the con- sortium, shaikh mureed hussain,
said his bus service required special gas stations as
the cng buses could not be filled at ordinary, low-pressure
gas stations. “i had told cda that i will sus-
pend the bus service if four or five big cng stations
were not established in the capital city,” he
said. it takes 20 minutes to refill a bus at high-pressure
cng station and four hours at ordinary sta- tions, according
to him. his present 10-bus fleet depended on a single
high pres- sure cng station located near pir vadhai.
that would be insuffi- cient for his planned 300-bus
fleet and so the cda had promised to allow him construct
a terminal for the midway consortium in sector i-11.
but the cda backed out on the promise, he said. the
bus service was launched by the consortium and the cda
jointly on february 11 without entering into a formal
agreement and providing necessary infra- structure.
according to the verbal under- standing the firm was
to start the service with 50 buses, to be increased
to 300 in three years. |
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CNG rickshaws Rozgar scheme more bane than a boon
ISLAMABAD, April 19: Launched under the slogan
of providing jobs to the poor in September 2006, the
President’s Rozgar Scheme has emerged as a burden
on the people in the Rawalpindi region, as CNG rickshaws
financed under the programme have turned out to be fraught
with manufacturing faults.
The National Bank of Pakistan has delivered 47 rickshaws
in the Rawalpindi region so far. However, its offices
have sought an immediate halt to the scheme until the
manufacturers remove the faults.
Sources told Dawn that market and client feedback received
by the bank had found that instead of benefiting the
poor clients, the scheme had inflicted losses on them.
Majority of the vehicles distributed under the scheme
are now off the road within just a year of their distribution.
According to the feedback, the rickshaws are suffering
from abnormal engine heat expulsion besides producing
abnormal busting sound, like a tractor.
The three-wheeler has no capacity to propel and pull
on steep roads and loses motion frequently. It also
suffers from frequent clutch cable breaking, leakage
of engine oil and wiring breakdown, according to the
complaints received by the bank.
There are also complaints about the vehicle’s
body getting rust with the paint fading too fast. Its
acceleration system is also said to be defective. It
has no pick up capacity and cannot run over 20 kilometers
per hour in fourth gear.
The bank has also found that in fact no shock-observers
had been fitted in the vehicles which created problems
for the drivers and commuters even on smooth roads.
The gas kits are also believed to be non-tunable besides
the issue of shafts and cross jams.
islamabad, april 19: launched under the slogan of providing
jobs to the poor in september 2006, the president’s
rozgar scheme has emerged as a burden on the people
in the rawalpindi region, as cng rick- shaws financed
under the pro- gramme have turned out to be fraught
with manufacturing faults. the national bank of pakistan
has delivered 47 rickshaws in the rawalpindi region
so far. however, its offices have sought an immediate
halt to the scheme until the manufacturers remove the
faults. sources told dawn that market and client feedback
received by the bank had found that instead of benefiting
the poor clients, the scheme had inflicted losses on
them. majority of the vehicles distributed under the
scheme are now off the road within just a year of their
distribution. according to the feedback, the rickshaws
are suffering from abnormal engine heat expulsion besides
producing abnormal busting sound, like a tractor. the
three-wheeler has no capacity to propel and pull on
steep roads and loses motion fre- quently. it also suffers
from fre- quent clutch cable breaking, leakage of engine
oil and wiring breakdown, according to the complaints
received by the bank. there are also complaints about
the vehicle’s body getting rust with the paint
fading too fast. its acceleration system is also said
to be defective. it has no pick up capacity and cannot
run over 20 kilometers per hour in fourth gear. the
bank has also found that in fact no shock-observers
had been fitted in the vehicles which created problems
for the drivers and commuters even on smooth roads.
the gas kits are also believed to be non-tunable besides
the issue of shafts and cross jams. |
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110 CNG stations in residential areas
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Noor Aftab
Rawalpindi
A large number of CNG filling stations already exist in residential areas of Rawalpindi and more are ready to go into operation in a few months - a worrying prospect for people living around.
Residents say the mushroom growth of such facilities in the midst of densely populated localities has created myriad difficulties, besides posing a perennial threat to safety of men, women and children from likely accidents like bursting of a cylinder.
Approximately 110 CNG stations are currently operating in residential areas of the city, including Satellite Town, Asghar Mall, Bakra Mandi, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Ratta Amral, Chungi 22, Tench Bhata, Muslim Town, Sadiqabad and Saidpur Road.
According to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) rules and regulations, a licensee will construct and operate gas pipeline and all works connected with CNG refuelling station, strictly complying with the provisions of the Petroleum Rules 1937 and the Gas Cylinder Rules, 1940, so as to avoid any danger to the public health and safety.
Any person authorised by OGRA may inspect and examine any place where there is any work for compressing natural gas with the purpose of storing, measuring or distribution of CNG.
"Most workers at CNG stations in Rawalpindi have not undergone proper training and they don't store gas in line with the standard set by the OGRA, making the outlets vulnerable to accidents," said an official of OGRA on condition of anonymity.
Lack of safety measures and trained workers put them and those residing in the vicinity at serious risk, as incidents had occurred time and again in the past, claiming a number of lives.
"Prior to issuance of licenses to applicants, the government should take no objection certificates (NOCs) from residents of respective localities who may have various concerns over establishment of CNG stations," said Jahangir Khan, a resident of Pindora, one of the thickly populated areas in the city.
"CNG filling stations are not only posing threat to our lives but also affect our privacy as long queues of motor vehicles have become a common scene in our locality," said Rashida Tauqeer, a housewife, living in Satellite Town.
When asked whether his workers were imparted any training by any government department, the owner of a CNG station along Saidpur Road claimed that no one working at CNG stations set up on that road has ever taken any training.
CNG Station Owners Association of Pakistan (CSOAP) President Malik Khuda Bux told 'The News' that the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) was imparting training to CNG workers in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
He said that the association would not support any programme of shifting CNG stations from residential to other areas as CNG owners have already made heavy investment, but "we suggest that more licences may not be issued for CNG stations in residential areas." "We are fully convinced that those CNG stations that are not following required precautionary measures should be shut down, but at the moment CNG owners are taking all possible safety measures according to irectives given by relevant authorities," he said.
DCO (Rawalpindi) Irfan Ellahi said that there was no plan yet to shift existing CNG stations to other parts of the city. "We are making efforts to ensure that all precautionary measures are being taken by owners of CNG stations in line with set rules and regulations." Irfan Ellahi said some new measures would also be taken in near future to ensure safety of people living adjacent to CNG stations in the city.
Given the increasing petroleum prices, the trend of using CNG-fitted vehicles is continuously gaining popularity among the public. It is expected that number of CNG vehicles will increase manifold in future, as gas is more economical than petrol and diesel.
According to a website of CNG Station Associations, around 150,000 vehicles are being converted to gas in a year that makes Pakistan the third largest user of CNG vehicles in the world after Argentina and Brazil.
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NBP hands over 45,000 CNG rickshaw worth Rs 5.5 bln
NBP hands over 45,000 CNG rickshaw worth Rs 5.5 bln
Karachi: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has so far handed over about 50,000 environment friendly CNG rickshaws worth more than Rs 5.5 billion to applicants all over Pakistan under its Rozgar scheme. This was stated by the Group Chief Consumer Banking NBP Aamir Siddiqui in an interview here Monday. He said that about 75,000 applicants have been registered so far under the scheme involving a total amount of Rs 7.5 billion.
He pointed out 20,000 registered applicants are waiting for the deliveries of CNG rickshaws from the manufacturers. "In my view, NBP is not only promoting self-unemployment among youth, but also making a humble effort by replacing heavy and dangerous smoke emitting rickshaw with CNG rickshaw", he said.
Amir said that NBP also has a distinction of developing CNG rickshaw industry in Pakistan, thus providing employment to thousands of jobless and improving environment in the country. "Currently, ten assemblers including Masters, Qingqi, Pak Hero and Sazgar are producing CNG rickshaws for NBP Rozgar scheme so that the applicant can select a rickshaw of his own choice", he opined.
He said that NBP has told the manufacturers that it will cancel the contract if the rickshaw has a generic problem. "Besides, it is in the contract that the manufacturer will refund the money, if the customers is not satisfy with the quality of rickshaw, he added.
Responding to a question about the complaints of inferior quality of rickshaws, Aamir said that NBP has canceled the contract with Qingqi after receiving reports of faults in its auto rickshaws.
He maintained that the quality of CNG rickshaws was inspected by the Engineering Development Board and Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) before their launching. Besides, Provincial Transport Authority was also involved in the registration of these rickshaws. All of them are technical and expert organisations, he added.
Aamir said that a group of transport mafia was trying malign NBP Rozgar scheme products to avoid instalment payments which are due now. "Members of this mafia rent out their rickshaws and now they are loosing their clients after the introduction of our Rozgar scheme", heobserved. He said that no CNG rickshaw was given to applicants in Islamabad as there is a ban on rickshaw in the capital. He pointed out that NBP will soon start the campaign to recover installments. If they do not pay their dues, NBP will reposes rickshaws and give them to other applicants, he added. "We will also hold country-wide seminars to create awareness about NBP Rozgar scheme in every walk of life and let the people know the truth in this regard", he maintained. He pointed out that rickshaw manufacturers have reported to NBP that the drivers are new and naivest and therefore damage parts of rickshaw while driving.
Aamir said that companies provide free service and replacement of parts during a guarantee period and parts are available all over thecountry.
He said that the bank has plan to introduce more products in the folder of its Rozgar scheme. NBP will provide a financing to doctors having clinics in rural area for purchase of equipment like hand-held ECG machine, urine analyzer, pulse oximeter, glucose and cholesterol tester and computer with printer to provide healthcare facilities. Similarly, a financing facility upto Rs 700,000 for the purchase of small trucks and taxi for transport and general purpose supplies to and from the market.
In addition, NBP will provide a loan of Rs 500,000 under its Rozgar scheme for setting up retail business, workshops, trade shops, clinics, professional shops and other small business. Meanwhile, chairman National Forum for Environment and Health Naeem Qureshi has appreciated the efforts of NBP for introducing CNG rickshaw in the country. He also urged the federal government to impose a ban on all auto- rickshaw which are badly polluting the environment and demanded federal and provincial Environmental Protection Agency (EPAs) to replace the thick smoke emitting rickshaws with CNG fitted rickshaws.
He also appealed the non-CNG rickshaw owners to either convert their rickshaws to CNG to buy CNG-fitted rickshaw to stop further degradation of environment.
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