Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is likely to start by the end of this year to help address gas shortage issue.
Assuring the import of LNG through a transparent process at competitive prices, he informed that work on the country’s first LNG terminal had already been started and it would be completed by December this year. On Pakistan-Iran Gas pipeline project, Abbasi said expert groups of both the countries would hold meeting by this month to workout workable implementation of the project.
However, international sanctions on Iran are main reasons for delay in Pak-Iran Gas pipeline project.
In a statement, he said the government was also working on alternative schemes to get gas from Iran, which includes establishment of an LNG terminal at Gwadar and would be connected with the Iranian border for import of gas. On Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project, Abbasi said operating agreement had already been signed.
Regarding ban on gas connections to new housing colonies, the minister said the ban was imposed in 2011 due to anticipated gas shortage. He said they had now moved a summary to get approval for giving new connections.
