The proposed project will safeguard China’s crude oil import supply line. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government has decided to offer China to lay oil pipeline from Gwader to Western China – a move that will allow the latter to diversify and safeguard its crude oil import routes, sources told The Express Tribune.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would make a formal offer to his Chinese counterpart during his current visit to China. The government is expected to sign within a month an operational agreement with the brotherly nation to hand over Gwader Port to a Chinese company.
Officials said Pak-China oil pipeline could later be linked with Iran that had already offered to lay oil pipeline from its territory to Gwader to transport crude oil. During the PPP era, Iran had also announced to set up oil refinery at Gwader Port with 400,000 barrels per day oil production capacity.
“So, this proposal may become feasible after Chinese company takes operational control of Gwader Port,” official said adding that Gwader Port is quite near to Persian Gulf through which nearly 40% of world’s oil supply flow is maintained.
Officials maintained that 50% of total oil demand of China is met from imports that come from Middle East. At present supply line to China runs over 10,000 kilometre Dubai-Shanghai-Urumqi ocean route.
“The crude oil processed and refined at Gwader Oil Refinery can be exported and transported to Urumqi through the shortest possible route to China via Dubai-Gwader-Urumqi which is about 3600 kilometres. For this a oil pipeline will be laid through the envisaged Energy Corridor up to Western China via KKH/Khunjrab bypass,” officials said.
They said that impediments like high altitude, freezing temperature and difficult terrain could be overcome through certain technological advancements since many countries had successfully completed such pipeline projects under extreme conditions and high altitude such as ATACAMA gas pipeline, Trans-Alkaska Pipeline, Trans-Asia Gas pipeline etc.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2013.
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The primary oil supply route for china is through Indian Ocean > Malacca Straight> South China sea, which is strategically venerable for china. [Consider Indian Navy base at Andaman Islands and US Nave presence at South China sea]. Getting a high capacity Oil & Gas Corridor through Pakistan to west china means reduced dependency on sea oil route, which will take china to a much strong strategic position in case of any regional conflict (specially with India). Honestly speaking, If I were the Chinese Chief, I would get this opportunity at any cost.
Furthermore, The oil and gas route through Pakistan could be more economic than the sea route in the long run.
@shahzad sindhi and Baloch are as much Pakistani as others. Stop passing negative comments. ET should ban comments that create provincial divide.
@ahmad: How many times has India aggressed against Pakistan that you need to forge ties with China to counter Indian aggression? If you want to establish closer ties with China, do so by all means. But please make sure you are benefiting from it. Pakistan has allowed its Indian paranoia too cloud sane judgement far too often.
Most of the people commenting here seems to have no understanding of the region..just see the map and you will have a better ides, about how much more china would want this project then Paksitan it self
@hh: "Nevertheless, when bad wisher are jealous, it is always a good sign" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ See you won the IMF Loan. But is that a good sign?:)
@hh: "That is the reason Pakistan and India face difficulties in finding peace." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nah the reason that Pakistan and India face difficulties in finding peace is due to events like Kargil, Mumbai and so on. Pls be under no illusions.
The way many Indians (Judging from names) are commenting here is very sad. That is the reason Pakistan and India face difficulties in finding peace. Nevertheless, when bad wisher are jealous, it is always a good sign. Let's hope and pray that we are able to materialize these projects.
this is excellent decision.China is set to become the biggest economy by 2017. It's oil demands are going to surge and thus it could use the Pakistan route to import its oil. this will be highly beneficial for Pakistan because of two reasons: Firstly, we will get millions of dollars in royalty from these pipelines. Secondly, Chinese interests in Pakistan means protection from Indian aggression, thus, we could get breathing space for concentration on our social sector.
If I were Chinese I would be advising Pakistan to have one pipedream at a time. I would be saying first build the gas pipeline from Iran and operate the same in a secure manner by ensuring that it does not get caught up with the Baloch penchant for blowing up pipelines.
Anway it seems that the slogan of Pakistan as an “Energy Corridor” and “Gateway to Central Asia” without having a border with any Central Asian Republic has joined the national lexicon of earlier failed though pithy slogan’s such as “Strategic Depth”, “The Defence of the East lies in the West”, “Two Nation Theory” and such like.
Keep it up people
Always leave negative comments about Pakistan. : ) Always
But I'm sure things are going to change for Pakistan in near future and this country will come up as a giant economy.
good proposal, Pak should demand many things in return.
"They said that impediments like high altitude, freezing temperature and difficult terrain could be overcome" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wisely the impediment that cannot be overcome was excluded......Terrorist Violence.
@Vectra: pakistani exuberance is matched with Chinese Frigidity ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NS is behaving like a brat in a toy shop.
Pipelines........................Pipe Dreams..... ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Need I say more?
its been quite a while that we are listening to things that we change the future of Pakistan .... No idea when they will be materialized.
"Safe" and "Pakistan" don't exactly go together. If built the pipeline will attract the attention of all sorts of militant elements.
This project never get materialize as chinese never invest such a project concerned about the security and huge cost involved.The pipeline have to go through the most unsafe place on planet !
Another gimmick to fool people LIKE IRAN PIPELINE,Thar coal, TAPPI ETC
@ShriNarendraModi: Be Positive........... never try to look at the dark side........... be Optimist at least.
Laying an oil pipeline through geologically most active terrain is technically challenging and could easily cost tens of billions of dollars. Is china willing to take the risk? I wonder.
This would be MNS life time achievement if Gawadar port is set Operational and China provided with the gate way. will definitely flourish Pakistan Economy. Pak-Sino dosti Zinda Bad. We shall not take any pressure from international front on Projects of National Interest.
What? no China Pakistan flags in the background? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Something is wrong.
I can almost smell the kickbacks