SSGC’s plant starts residential gas meters manufacturing
Sui Southern Gas Company’s plant has started residential gas meters manufacturing.
SSGC’s Chairperson Dr. Shamshad Akhtar inaugurated a new assembly line for measuring units of G-4 Gallus residential gas meters.
The gas utility’s Meter Manufacturing Plant (MMP) is South East Asia’s only one of its kind located inside the Head Office compound.
SSGC’s MMP started its production in 1975 with the prime objective of fulfilling the domestic gas meters’ requirements of both the Sui Companies.
The plant is a source of direct and/or indirect income for around 10,000 Pakistanis. Besides, MMP is a progressive source of saving valuable foreign exchange.
Currently, two types of domestic gas meters – G-1.6 and G-4 – on European standards are under production at MMP with the potential of extending the product line(s) based on its extensive vertical integration, well-established vendor base, and years of know-how in gas meter manufacturing.
It is pertinent to mention here that gas meters serve as cash registers for gas distribution companies.
These meters are expected to fulfill stringent performance and metrological parameters, which the MMP’s meters meet and, in some cases, exceed, owing to the excellent quality and refined technological improvements achieved through decades of continuous research and development efforts by both SSGC and ITRON (Europe based technology supplier). PSMC shareholders question debt settlement deal with SSGC against land
Therefore, prudence demands that the procurement of such critical devices should not be based on selecting a cheaper alternative(s).
The G-1.6 meter has been fully localized (96% of parts produced locally); whereas the ‘measuring unit’ of the G-4 gas meter was being imported from M/s. ITRON as per the conditions of the last License Agreement (expired in 2019).
A new Technology Transfer and License Agreement has been negotiated and finalized with M/s. ITRON Inc. USA, which will enable the production of G-1.6 and G-4 gas meters as designated ‘Company Meters’ in the Agreement, along with the production of ‘measuring unit’ at MMP in addition to the meter casing, index, plastic parts, etc., thereby completing the localization of G-4 gas meter (Indigenized contents will enhance from the current 53% to 97%).
In the current economic situation, this major milestone shall entitle the Government of Pakistan to ensure huge cost savings along with the development of the local vendor industry by introducing state-of-the-art technology from the global leader in metering.
The landmark achievement was also witnessed by MD, SSGC Mr. Imran Maniar, SGM (UFG) Saeed Rizvi, Head of MMP Iqbal Muhammad, and their team. The top management of ITRON’s Commercial and Technical units led by Mr. T. H. Syed, the exclusive agent of ITRON in Pakistan was also invited to be a part of the ceremony.
