News
Friday, January 13, 2012
Gilani inaugurates Kunnar-Pasakhi Gas Pipeline Project* Vows to provide basic facilities to people
HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani inaugurated the Kunnar-Pasakhi Gas Pipeline Project at the OGDCL field of Deh Shah Bukhari on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the government was responsible to provide all basic facilities to the people, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government had initiated a number of development projects to facilitate the people at their doorsteps.
With the inauguration of the project, initially, 100 million cubic feet per day gas has been inducted in the gas distribution network. After the installation of a gas processing plant in the field, the gas production would not only increase to 280 MMCFD, but the field would also produce 387 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 400 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per day during the current year.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Labour Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar also attended the inauguration ceremony, while Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain presented the welcome address. The prime minister said the country was experiencing an energy crisis, and in order to address the issue, the people’s government had set priority to develop the natural gas sector of the country. The development of this important sector would help in overcoming the energy crisis, he said, adding that induction of 280 MMCFD gas in the distribution network from Kunnar-Pasakhi Project would help meet the energy shortge. The prime minister said the government was making all out efforts to supply gas to the far-flung areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces so that the people of these remote parts could also avail the gas facility at their doorsteps.
Gilani said that besides gas, the government was also making efforts to provide other facilities to the people at their doorsteps. The government was taking all possible measures in this direction so that all basic needs could be available to the people without any discrimination at their doorsteps, he said. Completion of Kunnar-Pasakhi Gas Pipeline Project proved the fact that the people’s government was making sincere efforts to overcome the energy crisis, the prime minister said and added that “We are fortunate that Allah Almighty has bestowed all natural resources on our country and there is only the need to explore these hidden resources so that the people could benefit from them.”
With the blessings of Allah Almighty and the cooperation of the people, the government would succeed in overcoming all crises and utilise all possible resources to provide maximum facilities to the countrymen, the prime minister said and maintained that despite problems, the government would continue its efforts to take the country to the zenith of progress and prosperity. He said the people were deprived of availing the natural gas facility from the Kunnar-Pasakhi Project due to delays and hurdles of eight years, however, as a result of the efforts of the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, the supply of gas from this project had been made possible.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain in his welcome address highlighted the efforts made for completion of Kunnar-Pasakhi Project, delayed due to different reasons for last eights years. He informed that the country was facing a gas shortfall of 2.3 Billion Cubic Feet (BCFD) as the demand was 6.5 BCFD compared to production of 4.2 BCFD.
The minister informed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources had initiated a number of projects to meet the challenge of the crisis which included the purchase of Pro-Gas LPG plant at Bin Qasim at a cost of Rs 2.25 billion for refilling of 150 tonnes LPG daily, besides the import of LNG. Besides, the minister informed that work on different gas fields of Sindh and Balochistan provinces was being carried out successfully. With completion of Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project, one BCF per day gas will be available in the country, the minister said and informed that the Qatar Government had also agreed to provide Liquefied Natural Gas to Pakistan. As a result of these efforts, the minister informed that 2.2 BCFD gas would be available in the country from the next year.
While ruling out the criticism of the opposition, Dr Asim Hussain said that it was the first government that not only had given a five-years action plan, but was also preparing another five-years action plan for the country to meet the energy crisis. “We are preparing a roadmap for meeting the energy requirement”, the minister said. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk