Amid controversies over the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and available facilities by the Engro-Vopak Terminal Limited (EVTL) at the city’s largest port, it seems the authorities at federal capital are reluctant to do away with all paper work, permissions etc in one go-up even after an expenditure of $5 billion in additional oil imports.
Moreover, if the project of much importance, which aims at overcoming the energy shortfall in the country, is delayed, the people will be left without electricity in the years to come.
The LNG import is considered as the shortest solution to cater to the needs of energy crisis, however it is beyond one’s imagination why were the authorities’ concerned showing reluctance to materialise the project. Besides, the LNG import could also save billions of rupees being spent under the head of oil import for the power sector.
In a move to brief the media about the Green Field area the available facilities of the Engro-Vopak Terminal Limited at the PQA, the Xenith Public Relations (Pvt) Ltd arranged a day-long visit the sites.
While giving short briefing to the media persons in the waters, Engro Chemical Engineer Ammar Shah apprised about the short-term solutions for the energy crisis resolution.
Later, while briefing at the Engro-Vopak Terminal, PQA, Engro Vopak Terminal Limited Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Imranul Haq said his firm was the only state-of-the-art integrated bulk liquid terminal in Pakistan established in 1997 with an investment of $65m designed to handle 75,000 DWT vessel.
“The EVTL was the first to construct and commission LPG storage in 1999 and cryogenic facility of Ethylene (-103oc) in 2009 in Pakistan with 30.3 million cbm storage capacity for oils, chemicals, LPG, LNG and edible oil in 2012 vs 28.3m cbm in 2011,” he said.
To a question about why the LNG import was essential, the CEO said if the work on Pak-Iran gas pipeline starts, it will take more than four years to complete, other proposals too are time gaining, however, the LNG import was the easiest way to resolve energy crisis in the country. “It just takes around six days to import in LNG from Qatar and put it in the supply lines of the SSGCL”.
Sheikh Iman said the government had approved the site and the PQA signed IA with one party without conducting a QRA. However, “We proposed infrastructure for import of LNG at existing EVTL site, gave proposal to construct new jetty in adjacent basin utilizing FSRU and recommended QRA study by all Developers to Energy Task Force. Besides, we also submitted two proposals for greenfield site at Khiprianwala in 2013, and the ECC approved fast track project in July-October 2012.”
Furthermore, the chief executive officer said the tender for 1.5 MTPA in year 1 and 3MTPA+ from 2nd year onwards under fast track project for 10 years was recently issued and the due date is October 1. It aims 400 mmscfd vs 500 mmscfd injection and at Pakland SMS vs near KESC while the EVTL could provide services to handle 1.5MTPA LNG by Nov 2014. And, the LNG import will also increase the PQA revenue up to $3 mn/year.
While lauding the efficiency of the port authorities, the CEO said PQA has the infrastructure and technical expertise to handle the FSRU trading vessel. It has handled larger vessels than the proposed FSRU trading vessel (even during night time) and is safely handling more dangerous cargo than LNG such as LPG, Ethylene, Paraxylene, HSD, HSFO for over past 17 years.
