Converting fertiliser plants on coal to end gas crisis:FPCCI

Lahore: The Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) on Wednesday said that converting fertiliser plants on coal will end gas and CNG load shedding in one day.

Rejecting gas load shedding plans, it said that the crisis is not of the gas shortages but that of true intentions which is key to resolve the issue.

Speaking to a meeting over energy crisis, Tariq Mehmood, former president of ACCI said that gas load shedding has made life of masses miserable which industry has suffered great losses. He said that officials claim theft of gas worth Rs two billion per day which is almost 75 per cent of the shortfall. If theft is checked or fertiliser sector is converted on coal ash, there will be no crisis in country, rather supply will exceed demand by 500 mmbtu, he informed. Current supply stands at 4100 mmbtu.

Tariq Mehmood, who is also Director Pak-UK Business Council and Chairman FPCCI Committee on Health, said that many countries having no gas are making fertiliser from coal ash.

China is satisfying 70 per cent of fertiliser demand by producing the commodity through coal ash, similarly, America is producing 15 per cent of fertiliser from coal ash, India 26 per cent and Australia 18 per cent.However, Pakistan, which is left with some depleted gas fields, is bent upon using natural gas for production of fertiliser which amounts to axing own feet.