Six new projects being executed in petroleum sector

ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division would carry out six new projects worth Rs1.775 billion during the current fiscal year 2021/22 to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy sector, streamline matters related to minerals’ regulatory framework and data compilation.

According to the official documents, the government has allocated Rs40 million in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2021/22) for a new project, under which the development of Strategic Underground Gas Storage (SUGS), hiring of consultancy services for bankable feasibility study and the transaction advisory services (PC-II) would be carried out.

A sum of Rs30 million has been specified for legal consultancy services for drafting of model mineral agreement and updating of the regulatory framework (federal and provincial minerals/coal departments) prepared by the Mineral Wing,

The Petroleum Division has earmarked Rs40 million for Pakistan National Research Programme on geological hazards (earthquakes and landslides), data acquisition along active faults and identification of potential landslides hotspot zones; Rs73.447 million for the supply of 10MMCFD re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to the Bostan Special Economic Zone; Rs149.410 million for the supply of 13MMCFD RLNG to Bin Qasim Industrial Park and Rs785 million for the supply of 40MMCFD gas/RLNG to the Allama Iqbal Industrial City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Faisalabad.

Similarly, for the seven ongoing schemes, Rs1.473 billion has been earmarked, of which Rs263 million was specified for the establishment of the National Minerals Data Centre (NMDC); Rs345.321 million for the expansion and upgradation of Pakistan Petroleum Core House (PETCORE); Rs30 million for the geological mapping on 50 toposheets, of 354 unmapped toposheets of outcrop area of Balochistan; Rs385.336 million for strengthening and upgradation of the Karachi Laboratories Complex (KLC) at HDIP Operations Office, Karachi; Rs76.580 million for the supply of 13.5MMCFD gas at Doorstep (Zero Point) of Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Sindh; Rs230 million for the supply of 30MMCFD gas at Doorstep (Zero Point) of Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ); and Rs143.446 million for the upgradation of POL testing facilities of HDIP in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and ISO Certification of the Petroleum Testing Laboratory in Islamabad.

Overall, the Petroleum Division would spend Rs3.249 billion on 13 ongoing and new projects during the year 2021/22.