Meeting energy needs: Petroleum minister inaugurates Makori gas processing plant

Plant will produce 305 mmcfd of gas, 520 tons of LPG per day, 25,000 bpd of condensate

KARAK: The government is well aware of the requirement of industrial and domestic sectors and is taking every possible measure to meet their gas needs for a stable and progressive economy, said Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Makori gas processing plant where lawmakers, local government representatives, senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company as well as local elders were present.

The plant will produce 305 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (mmcfd), 520 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per day and 25,000 barrels per day of condensate/crude that will play a vital role in development of the oil and gas industry.



Hitting out at the previous government, he said no proper planning was done to cope with the rising gas demand, adding the current government accorded the highest priority to energy supplies soon after coming to power to cater to the domestic and industrial sectors.

Abbasi said the government was working on several gas search projects to meet the country’s requirement. The federal government has initiated gas-related projects worth Rs800 billion including the setting up of LNG terminals and laying of gas pipelines.

“Pakistan will have energy surplus due to effective policies of the government by 2018,” declared Abbasi.

The minister said special focus had been given to energy schemes in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and these projects would end load-shedding forever.

He boasted that uninterrupted gas supply was being ensured to industrial and domestic sectors of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa despite its shortage and urged people to save gas, especially during peak hours. Fifty per cent of electricity used by the domestic and industrial sectors was being produced from different gas-based power units, said the minister, adding the problem of gas shortage would be addressed with the completion of energy projects.

“Energy is the engine of growth and no economy can develop without the promotion of business and industry. The government is seriously working to confront all the challenges facing the country.” Abbasi said Karak was very rich in gas and the Makori gas facility like projects would help generate job opportunities besides eradicating poverty in the area.

The minister congratulated MOL at the inauguration of the Makori gas processing plant and expressed hope that they would continue to invest and build the gas exploration and production sector of the country.

Earlier, the minister was briefed by MOL executives about salient features of the Makori plant.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2016.

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