Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly standing committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources was informed by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that “crude oil pilferage volume from Kohat Division is more than Rs 100 billion” and MOL, an international oil company is main accused in this scam. A standing committee meeting was held at OGDCL house on Friday with Malik Ahtebar Khan in the chair to ponder the crude oil theft from Kohat Division of terror stricken province KP and misuse of funds earmarked for petroleum engineer training, by petroleum ministry officials.

KP FIA director Shariq Shahzad submitted the preliminary investigation report regarding crude oil theft from KP to the committee and said that the volume of oil theft is more than Rs 100 billion and so far 150 people have been arrested.

The ministry of petroleum signed a concession agreement with MOL international oil company to explore and develop from Kurk, Hangu and Kohat areas rich with natural resources. MOL with other oil companies succeeded in exploring huge oil and gas reserve from these blocks, the document revealed.

Shariq Shahzad director FIA told the committee that it has been confirmed during the course of the in depth probe that crude oil thieves used three methods to fulfil their nefarious designs. He alleged that MOL operators punctured the main oil pipeline to pilferage the huge quantity of oil and then transported to oil refinery located in the southern and coastal areas of the country. He said the main oil pipeline is operated with 1500 PSI (pressure of oil) and without stalling the main system which is in the possession of Mol international oil company, no one can puncture the pipeline. If someone tried to puncture the oil pipeline without closing the system, it would cause an explosion that could pose serious threat to the lives of the people of the whole areas.

Shariq Shahzad revealed that in 2014, an oil theft case was registered in local police station but the police arrested blue collar workers and locals and later released all suspects after allegedly being bribed. The investigation officer said that the international oil company has up till now kept complete control over petroleum ministry management as no officer from the ministry agreed to share the classified documents or information relating to this national loss.

The standing committee expressed its serious concern over the silence of this development and observed that silence of petroleum ministry was a question mark over their credibility.

Secretary petroleum Arshad Mirza revealed that the investigation into oil theft was initiated by the previous government and after preliminary stages, the case was closed.

He said that the incumbent government has decided to resume the stalled investigation and so far the probe is going well. He said three government departments are investigating this scam simultaneously.

Arshad Mirza assured the committee that all documents relating to this case would be handed over to the FIA and added that the ministry was ready to cooperate with anyone who approached them. The Secretary petroleum also confirmed that a huge quantity of oil had been pilfered, which was a huge financial loss to the national kitty.