ISLAMABAD
Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday underlined the need for linking Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project to lifting of sanctions on the latter, adding the same would be completed in three years as and when sanctions are removed.
Talking to reporters after addressing an opening session of the two-day oil and gas summit being organised by International Research Networks (IRN), in collaboration with the Petroleum Ministry, he said the same line of thinking had also been coveyed to Iran.
He said there was no external pressure to prevent progress on the project, adding that in presence of the sanctions, the work could not proceed on the pipeline to import gas from Iran.
Answering another question regarding the LNG import project, he said all modalities had been worked out and negotiation on government-to-government basis were under way with Qatar.
He said no pricing had been finalized to import the LNG and that first supply of the gas would reach the country by November this year.
To a question, he said that after the 18th Amendment issues with regard to the OGRA were being sorted out and things would go, smoothly.
He said the summit would go a long way in highlighting the country’s hydrocarbon resources and working out strategies to effectively explore natural wealth for mitigating the energy crisis in the country.
Earlier addressing the conference, the Minister said the government was working on several front to effectively meet the country’s energy requirements and several measures were being taken in this regard.
He said the event would bring energy experts of international repute together to analyses crucial issues and activities in the oil and gas industry in Pakistan, besides addressing the legal framework, geology and proven reserves, pipeline routes, technical issues, key onshore and offshore threats, emerging technologies, and forthcoming opportunities for investors and operators to get involved and benefit from the lucrative potential in the country.
He asked the participants to come with viable solutions that could be conveniently implemented for exploring the hidden resources especially Shale gas reserves.
