ISLAMABAD –
The future of the multi billion dollars strategic gas pipeline is indoldrums, it has been revealed.
As per the media report, the Petroleum Division is going to seekgovernment’s approval for an integrated strategy to revive abandonedmultibillion-dollar gas pipeline projects in a bid to address energyshortages.
Petroleum Division was set to present three options to the EconomicCoordination Committee (ECC) to decide the fate of old gas pipelineprojects in order to ensure energy security in the country, Tribune hasreported.
Under the first option, the Petroleum Division wants the ECC to revive theGwadar-Nawabshah LNG Terminal and Pipeline project under the integratedstrategy for gas import and infrastructure. The project will provideinfrastructure and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies. It may also beextended to the Iranian border in future for gas purchases from the Gulfcountry.
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Under the second option, the Petroleum Division will seek approval forphase-wise capacity utilisation of the North-South gas pipeline project incase it is considered a standalone project, which will be connected withupcoming private-sector LNG terminals at Karachi port under third-partyaccess rules.
Under the third option, the Petroleum Division is set to ask the ECC toeither defer or drop the North-South gas pipeline project.
Sources recalled that during the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) government, the ECC had approved on October 2, 2014 implementationof the Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG Terminal and Pipeline project as an alternativeto the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project, which had been stalled due tointernational sanctions on Tehran.
