Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of cabinet’s steering committee on Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline has finalised a consortium of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Habib Bank Limited as financial advisor for the project. An official source said the decision was made at the meeting of the steering committee, chaired by Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain and attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chairman Board of Investment, Secretary Finance, Acting Chairman OGRA, Chairman EOBI, MD PARCO, representatives of Law Division, Planning Commission, National Bank of Pakistan and other senior officers.
The committee decided to recommend appointment of financial consultant for IP project to ECC for approval. The financial advisor will assist Inter State Gas Systems Limited (ISGS) in determining an optimal capital structure and financing plan for the project and for providing political and commercial risk cover. It will be responsible for managing entire transaction upto financial close including help in arranging financing.
Pakistan is estimated to face a shortage in natural gas supply which is projected to increase from 1.6 bcfd in 2011-12 to over 2.5 bcfd in 2014-15. IP pipeline project will bring initially 750 mmcfd gas which will be increased to 1.05 bcfd. First gas flow is expected in 2014. The project involves construction of 781 km gas pipeline from Iranian border to Nawabshah to inject gas into transmission system of two gas utility companies. Estimated cost of the project on the Pakistani side is estimated at $1.2 billion. According to an official statement the steering committee on IP pipeline and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline projects, reaffirmed its commitment to go ahead with major gas projects. Secretary Petroleum Ijaz Chaudhry briefed the committee on progress made on IP and TAPI projects.
Managing Director Inter State Gas Company Ltd (ISGCL) Mobin Saulat gave a detailed presentation on appointment of financial advisor, implementation of IP gas pipeline project, security of IP pipeline during route survey and construction, and signing of TAPI Gas Sale Purchase Agreement (GSPA). The committee agreed in principle to recommend proposals regarding implementation of IP and TAPI gas pipeline projects to ECC and appointment of financial consultant. These proposals include government backed guarantees, model of financial consultancy and gas pricing formula for both pipeline projects.
The government has already decided to dedicate imported gas through IP pipeline for the power sector as power shortage is projected to increase over 11,000 MW in next few years. The government is working to start process for setting up new Independent Power Producers (IPPs) of 5,000 MW cumulative capacity, so that they should be ready for commissioning by the time natural gas starts flowing from IP pipeline in December 2014. Official estimates based on the current crude oil price project the monthly gas import bill will be in the tune of $200-250 million, which was lowest when juxtaposed with other options, namely HSFO and RLNG.
Use of IP gas is estimated to result in an average annual savings of $1.2 billion against using RLNG as alternate fuel at crude price of $ 100 per barrel. The present value of total savings comes to $10.9 billion. Using HSFO as an alternate fuel indicates that IP gas will result in average annual savings of $1.7 billion at crude price of $100 per barrel. The present value of total savings comes to $15.3 billion. The recently imposed levy on natural gas which help generate Rs45 billion per annum, which government plans to use to develop the gas infrastructure for the imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Iran Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline and Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects.
Well Done! this is what is required
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