Companies asked to produce economical gas appliances
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The gas appliances producing companies have been asked to ensure economical products for checking the wastage of natural gas in winter season.
Taking serious note of the wasteful use of natural gas in domestic appliances, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has issued directive to appliances producing industries particularly the geyser manufacturers to ensure production of quality appliances.
The gas companies should ensure that only standard appliances are used and a mechanism is put in place to monitor and implementation of this decision.
Water heaters (geysers) are being used in most of houses particularly in cities and towns. But, unfortunately, locally manufactured geysers are only 30 to 32% efficient and approximately 70% of the energy is wasted which ultimately causes huge loss of natural gas.
This loss can be avoided markedly by the production and use of energy efficient geysers after following prescribed standards and procedures.
By carrying out technical analysis of the existing geysers, it is determined that the main parts which govern the efficiency of the geysers are burners, gas retainers and insulation medium of water tank.
It is observed that major factor for loss of energy is due to the poordesigning and use of sub-standard material for those parts. Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) has been directed to carry out a study for optimization of technical parameters of presently used natural gas water heaters and designing new and efficient geysers.
The Institute has also been directed to prepare policies to promote and marketing the solar water heating technologies in the country. The gas companies were suggested to support students research in engineering universities for promoting specific Research and Development (R&D) projects related to natural gas conservation.
It may be mentioned that nearly 500 to 600 million cubic feet gas per day is to be diverted from industrial consumption to domestic use every year during the winter months due to high gas demand for space and water heating. But owing to sub-standard domestic appliances, the wasteful use of natural gas is increasing day by day.