The energy starved Pakistan has said the country has not abandoned Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project yet and is considering all options to meet its energy needs.
Islamabad, Nov 1/Nationalturk – Amid uncertainty surrounding Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, the energy starved Pakistan has said the country has not abandoned the project yet and is considering all options to meet its energy needs.
“Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project had not been abandoned by Pakistan yet. Our country was considering all options to meet its energy requirements and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project was also included in these options,” Pakistan’s Foreign office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said.
Pakistan faces about 14-18 hours power cuts in summer and confronts with problems regarding gas supply in the winter.
The $7.5-billion gas project, aimed at easing Pakistan’’s gas and electricity shortages, has drawn threats of US sanctions and run into repeated problems.
Iranian side of pipeline almost complete
The Iranian side of the pipeline is almost complete but Pakistan has struggled to find the money to pay for the 780-kilometre (485-mile) section to be built on its side of the border.
Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by media on October 30 that Tehran will probably abandon the multibillion-dollar contract to supply natural gas to Pakistan.
“The contract is likely to be annulled,” he was quoted as saying.”
Under the contract, Iran was to scheduled export 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan from next year.
‘No chance of abandoning project
Reacting to Iranian minister’s threat, Pakistan’s Oil Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said there was absolutely no chance of abandoning the Iran-Pakistani gas pipeline project because the country needs it.
Abbasi had last month urged Iran to finance $2 billion in the construction of Pakistan’s side of gas pipeline project. “The preparatory work was complete and we have asked Iran to provide $2 billion for the construction work”.
Iran has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly completed the 900km pipeline to the Pakistan border.
US pressing Pakistan to abandon project
United States has long been pressurizing Pakistan to abandon the multibillion dollar project and threatened to impose economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the plan.
On March 11 this year, Iran’s then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated the final construction phase of the gas pipeline.
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline will enable export of 21.5 million cubic meters (mcm) per day of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan. Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil and is helping to build the 700-kilometer part of the pipeline on the Pakistani side.
The multi-billion-dollar pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.
The 2700 km long pipeline was originally intended to supply gas for Pakistan and India, but India has evaded talks.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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