Pakistan for enhanced gas from Iran

[Salman]

Pakistan for enhanced gas from Iran


EHRAN (FNA) – Pakistan has decided to negotiate with Iran to extend gas import volume from the existing 750 million cubic feet gas per day (mmcfd) to one billion bcfd to meet the requirements of Balochistan at Gwadar Port for industrial estates.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani reiterated its demand of 250 mmcfd gas allocation out of supplies under IP gas pipeline project to meet requirements of industrial estates at Gwadar in a meeting held with Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry on Monday.
Sources revealed that Balochistan required 250 mmcfd gas for industrial estates at Gwadar Port and therefore gas should be allocated under the IP gas pipeline project. When contacted, Secretary Petroleum IjazChaudhry said that Iran had already expressed its desire to provide 250 mmcfd of additional gas that could be used for industrial estates at Gwadar Port.
He maintained that the Ministry of Petroleum had already moved a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in 2010 seeking approval for import of this enhanced volume.
‘I have asked the Baluchistan Chief Minister to work out pricing related to gas imported from Iran,’ IjazChaudhry said.
He also maintained that Balochistan wanted to set up an energy company on the pattern of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
‘We have assured Balochistan of help in setting up such a company to carry out oil and gas exploration projects,’ he added.
An energy expert said that the government should meet Balochistan’s demand to allocate gas under the IP pipeline project that would boost economic activities in Gwader. ‘The imported gas from Iran would not be sufficient to bridge the gas shortfall, so the government should expedite local oil and gas exploration activities,’ he said adding that import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will also help overcome the energy crisis.