Gas-demand levels outstrip supply

Press, 9 June 1977, Page 6

Gas-demand levels outstrip supply

I he Christchurch Gas Company, Ltd, has been unable to produce gas fast enough to keep pace with consumer demand over the last two davs.

Cold weather caused the excessive demand, which has been diminishing the company’s reserves of gas since Tuesday morning. Major industrial users were asked to curtail their use of gas yesterday morning, and last evening radio and television appeals urged domestic consumers to turn off their appliances.

The general manager of the company, Mr Colin Kennedy, said the situation had arisen because of demand outstripping production— not because production had fallen. The gas output at the coal carbonising plant had been increased recently, ana the oil reforming plants were working to capacity. The gas in the company’s single 2.25 million cu. ft holder was almost gone and the appeals to restrict the use of gas were made to prevent

it emptying, said Mr Kennedy. “If the holder dropped to zero it could have resulted in serious mechanical damage, thereby compounding the problem for a considerably longer time,’’ he said.

Another measure adopted by the company was to reduce the pressure in the 340 miles of gas mains in Christchurch. “Pressures were gradually reduced to control the outflow of gas, but the fall of the holder was unable to be stopped.” said Mr Kennedy.

It was important to retain some pressure in the mains to prevent air mixing with the gas, which would cause problems with some appliances.

The decreased pressure meant noticeably less intense flames in some domestic appliances and some pilot lights went out.

“There is little danger of gas-air mixtures exploding in the pipes, but the gas can run into a room if the flame goes out,” said Mr Kennedy. The consumption figures for yesterday were not available, but 7.3 million cu ft of gas was consumed on Tuesday when the company produced slightly less than this quantity. The company recently commissioned the manufacture of a new oil reforming gas plant which it hoped to bring on steam within a week. The extra gas from this plant should prevent similar shortages of gas in the future, said Mr Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy could not say last evening if the situation would improve today. It depended on the amount of gas consumed overnight. He would not know until 9 am. today if the appeals for restricted use would have to continue.