Ahmedabad: Gujarat Gas company limited, Gujarat government undertaking, has implemented two slabs to control the usage of industrial gas consumption due to the ongoing war between Iran and United State (US)-Israel.
The gas company has stated that two slabs have been implemented to control industrial gas consumption due to war. If industries use more than 80% gas, they will be charged Rs 85 instead of Rs 49.50 per additional unit.
The company supplies more than 7 lakh kg of gas to more than 1000 industries across the state. In Surat itself, more than 1.50 lakh kg of gas is used daily in more than 300 industries. There are mainly textile processing mills, chemical mills and engineering, while in other cities, gas is used in large quantities in industries like chemicals, engineering, tiles, so the new slab is likely to have the greatest impact on the textile industry.
The company will charge rates according to the two slabs. If 80 percent of the approved quantity is used, it will cost Rs 49.50 per unit, while if it is used more than that, Rs 85 will be charged.
There is an attempt to control consumption in such a way that industries using more gas have to pay higher rates. The company is implementing the slab system to control consumption, now the industries will have to use it in a planned manner, otherwise it will be expensive.
Industry sources said that the production cost of industries may increase in the coming time. About 1,000 units of the state, including 300 in Surat, are gas-based and the daily consumption is pegged at about 7 lakh kg.
The textile processing and tiles industries will be most affected. Finished goods may become expensive. According to industrialists, the increase in gas rates will increase the costs of the textile processing industry, especially in the situation of reduced demand and increased costs. Since gas is used more in dyeing-printing mills, processing costs will increase and this may have a direct impact on the price of finished fabrics. Amidst the already reduced demand and increased costs, industrialists are now worried that the new gas slab will put an additional financial burden on the industry.
