Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Energy Ministry’ Petroleum Division signed 15 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with different countries during the last five years to enhance cooperation in the field of energy, official sources said.

The agreements were signed with: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Qatar, Iran, China, Russia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom and Kuwait.

Giving details, the official sources said Pakistan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan on cooperation in the field of energy on February 28, 2017. The government inked an agreement with Turkey to enhance cooperation in the field of Hydrocarbon on February 23,

2017. Pakistan signed a MoU for export of Liquefied Natural Gas from the State of Qatar on February 6, 2012. Whereas, an agreement on cooperation in energy sector between Qatar and Pakistan was signed in 2015.

A cooperation agreement between Pakistan and Iran was signed on December 1, 2012 to complete the much-awaited Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project.

A framework agreement between National Energy Administration of China and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (now Petroleum Division) on Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project was signed on April 20, 2015.

Pakistan and Russia inked an agreement to construct North-South (Karachi-Lahore) gas pipeline on October 16, 2015.

A MoU was signed between the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (now Petroleum Division) to increase cooperation in the field of fuel and energy Sector on March 16, 2017.

Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL)/Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), Asia Pacific Corporation UK and Sptech (Pvt) Limited Sweden signed a MoU on May 19, 2015 to mitigate gas losses, carrying out a pre-feasibility study on gas conservation/efficiency through rehabilitation, up-gradation and optimization of existing gas distribution network including replacement of existing gas meters with automated metering infrastructure (AMI) smart metering system.

On February 17, 2015, a MoU was signed for cooperation in joint venture projects in exploration and production (E&P) sector by Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Turkish Petroleum Corporation.

Whereas, the government signed two MoUs with Kirthan Pakistan B.V., a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, a state owned company of the Government of Kuwait, on strategic partnership basis.

Subsequently, in terms of MOUs, petroleum concession agreement and exploration license over two blocks were signed on government to government basis.

A long-term agreement for procurement of gasoil was signed between Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited – renewable after every three years. The contract would be valid from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017.

A MoU entitled as “Geosciences Cooperation between China Geological Survey (CGS) and Geological Survey of Pakistan” (GSP) for “Geochemical Mapping in Pakistan” was signed on July 27, 2010 in Beijing. The MoU was extended in 2014.

Saindak Metals Limited signed a lease contract with MCC of China in 2001 for Saindak Copper-Gold Project (District Chaghi, Balochistan) for a period of 10 years effective from October 2, 2002 for undertaking ore mining through processing and smelting to blister copper. The lease term was extended from expiry date in October 2012 to October 31, 2017 through an addendum to the lease contract.

Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) signed an agreement with MCC Huaye Duddar Mining Company (Private) Limited [MGD] of China on June 15, 2015 for Dummar Lead-Zinc Mining Project (Lasbela District, Balochistan) for development, ore-mining and minerals processing.

The original contract was signed with MCC China in November 2003 and MHD replaced that company through an addendum to the agreement. The lease/contract period with MI ID is valid up to January 14, 2035.

Published in Daily Times, October 28^th 2017.