talks for LNG import.
To a question, the minister admitted that the ConcoPhillps Company that visited Pakistan
on the directive of Qatar asked to include ADB that would provide guarantee on behalf of government of Pakistan.
When asked if it was a no-confidence against Pakistan, the minister said that this happened in the world and ADB and WB played their role in such deals.
Mentioning the fast track project for construction of terminals, the minister said that the government was going to issue the tenders next week to complete the fast track terminals for which bidding process would be completed by mid of October. After that Pakistan would initiate talks with Qatar for LNG import. “If the reasonable deal is not done, the other option of importing LNG through private companies would be utilised.”
Under the fast track project, the companies that have facilities of jetties and foreign collaboration will qualify for participating in the bidding process and there are examples to construct the terminals within span of 6-9 months.
From the day of awarding the contract, LNG import will start in a short time of 8 months. However, the deadline to inject the LNG in country’s system will be October 2014, but the government is certain that LNG will be imported before the deadline.
The minister said that the government also wanted to complete the tendering process of retrofitting of terminals initiated by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 18 months back. The technical bids were opened but financial bids were not opened.
“We want them to be opened and the company that qualifies should be given the contract for import of 500 mmcfd gas. But we will first have to look into the PPRA rules and assess if it is allowed or not,” he said.
About Iran-Pakistan pipeline, the minister said that the government had asked Iran to complete the project on its own.
“However, there is a new government in Iran and in Pakistan also. Foreign Office is looking into the expected impact of US sanctions imposed on Iran over the project. However, the government is very much on it and wants to complete this project by January 2015,” he said.
Turkey and Armenia are getting gas from Iran and enjoying the waiver from US sanctions. Besides it, Japan and India are also getting oil from Iran.