Petroleum Division backs long-term LNG deal
Secretary tells Senate panel on petroleum it will ensure smooth supply
LNG PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government set to open the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market for the private sector to reduce financial risk, a Petroleum Division official has underlined the need for a long-term LNG deal.
The country has already a long-term LNG deal with Qatar. Consumers are forced to consume expensive LNG due to the involvement of government entities in the entire chain.
The private sector has been struggling for several years to import LNG but it has been denied the opportunity due to monopoly of state-run companies despite the fact that the consumers had paid a tolling fee to the LNG terminal for idle capacity. Now, the Petroleum Division secretary informed a parliamentary panel on Monday that there should be a long-term LNG contract for smooth supply.
OGDCL remains industry leader
January 30, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) maintained its position as the market leader in the upstream petroleum sector by securing maximum acreage nationwide for drilling new wells, a statement said on Friday.
The Petroleum Concession director general has communicated the provisional award of new exploration blocks to OGDCL, it added.
The energy giant would work as an operator in 10 blocks and as a joint venture partner with Mari Petroleum and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) in one block.
These blocks have been awarded after competitive bidding, based on the work units committed by different E&P companies in the block bidding round 2020 arranged by the government of Pakistan, it said.
GIDC arrears amounted to ‘Rs81.81b’
Public Accounts Committee panel summons K-Electric over non-payment to SSGC
ISLAMABAD:
A subcommittee of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday summoned K-Electric officials over the issue of unauthorised supply of gas to it and non-payment of arrears to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
A meeting of the subcommittee, with its convener Raja Riaz in the chair, reviewed the audit objections regarding the Petroleum Division for 2018-19.
The committee was informed by audit officials about the non-recovery of Rs 81.81 billion under Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC).
SSGC officials informed the committee that gas worth Rs10 billion was stolen in Balochistan, annually, and they stressed the need for the government and the relevant agencies to resolve the issue of gas theft in the province.
Govt opens bids for 20 onshore oil blocks
Business
January 16, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday opened bids for grant of petroleum exploration rights for 20 onshore blocks to oil and gas development companies.
The minimum investment to be carried out by the exploration and production companies in these blocks for prospecting will be over $71 million in three years, an official at the directorate general of petroleum concession, said an official.
âThe current government aimed at less reliance on imports in the oil and gas by introducing ease-of-doing-business in petroleum sector and transparency to ensure a level-playing field for all competitors in exploration and production (E&P) sector,â the official said in a statement. âThe onset of E&P activities will help create job opportunities and possible decrease in import bill.â