Date:11/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/09/11/stories/2004091101980200.htm

Back Gas supply to Gujarat industries cut 30%

Our Bureau

Ahmedabad , Sept. 10

INDUSTRIAL units in Gujarat are facing a shortage of gas following disruption in supply to Petronet LNG Ltd due to non-delivery of a consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar.

Confirming the development, a top Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) official said that the supplies to local industry have been cut by as much as 30 per cent.

"But we have been assured by GAIL (India), from whom we source the bulk of our gas, that the consignment would arrive by September 13 and normal supplies would resume. We are keeping our fingers crossed," the GSPC official said.

The state-owned corporation has ensured that fuel supplies to the gas-fired power plants are not disrupted, the official said, adding that power plants have been functioning "more or less normally" despite the shortage.

An Ahmedabad Electricity Company spokesperson said that the "matter is under continuous review at the suppliers' end.

However, we have not received any correspondence from the supplier (GSPC) as to how long it would take to restore normal supply."

In the chain, Petronet imports LNG, which is regassified and supplied to GSPC and other users by GAIL.

GSPC in turn supplies the fuel to local industry in Gujarat.