SSGC announces gas load-shedding schedule during Ramadan

The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has announced its gas load-shedding schedule for Ramadan.

As per the schedule, gas supply will be suspended from 9 AM to 3 PM and again from 10 PM to 3 AM throughout the holy month. However, the SSGC has assured an uninterrupted gas supply during Sehr and Iftar timings.

The company highlighted that Pakistan’s gas reserves are depleting at a rate of 8 to 10 percent annually. In a concerning revelation, SSGC warned that the country’s gas reserves could be reduced by half by 2027.

To address the growing energy crisis, SSGC stated that it is actively exploring alternative solutions, including biogas, nitrogen production, and extracting gas from coal.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO) has forecasted the expected sighting of the Ramadan moon for 2025.

A SPARCO spokesperson stated that the new moon is set to occur on February 28, 2025, at 5:45 PM Pakistan Standard Time.

However, the visibility of the crescent on February 28th is expected to be challenging in Pakistan due to its low altitude and positioning. At sunset, the moon will be only 12 hours old, with an altitude of just 5 degrees and a 7-degree separation from the sun, making it difficult to spot with the naked eye.

“Given these conditions, the crescent moon is unlikely to be visible to the human eye on February 28th,” the spokesperson explained.

Based on these astronomical calculations, SPARCO predicts that Ramadan in Pakistan is likely to begin on March 2, 2025. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the crescent moon may be visible on February 28th, potentially marking the start of Ramadan there on March 1, 2025.