ISLAMABAD – Pakistan will import some 500 million to 1 billion cubic footof gas every day from Russia, which would be transported via sea link, theagreement says. The pipeline construction is expected to be completed inthree to four years.
Russian energy giant Gazprom has signed an inter-corporate agreement withInter State Gas Systems Pakistan for constructing an offshore gas pipeline,a press release said on Wednesday.
A Russian delegation called on Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan at hisoffice to express their interest in the exploration and production of gasin Pakistan. Vitaly Markelov of Gazprom, who was part of the Russiandelegation, and IGS’s Managing Director Mubin Saulat signed the agreement.
Appreciating the expanding trajectory of bilateral relations between thetwo countries, the federal minister termed the pipeline project amanifestation of multifaceted cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.
Gazprom will use the pipeline to transport gas from its sources in theMiddle East onwards to Pakistan and may extend it further to South Asiancountries. “The pipeline would follow an integrated approach includingother ancillary projects such as Under Ground Gas storage, desalination,and other power projects,” the press release said.
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Pakistan will import some 500 million to 1 billion cubic foot of gas everyday from Russia, which would be transported via sea link, the agreementsays. The pipeline construction is expected to be completed in three tofour years.
After Pakistan’s gas deposits depleted, the country started facing ashortage of natural gas to meet its industrial and domestic needs,especially in Punjab. Responding to the crisis, the government introducedvarious policies, including limiting supply to CNG stations. Later on, itsigned various agreements to import LNG.
However, with Special Economic Zones of the China-Pakistan EconomicCorridor materialising, the demand for gas will increase. The offshorepipeline will be one of the key projects to meet this gap.
