Shaikh said that the US should play a role in addressing security concerns surrounding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. Furthermore, he said the pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2016 which will inject 1,325 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas into the system. He also spoke about the plans made to meet demand of gas by industries in future.
The delegation was informed that the demand of gas in the country was 3,500 mmcfd and to meet it, the supply of gas to fertiliser plants had been reduced by 20 per cent.
Shaikh said that work is under way to link four gas wells in Sindh to the national gas distribution network which will lead to supply of an additional 300 mmcfd by 2013.
Speaking about Thar coal, he told the delegation that initially 6.5 million tons of coal will be extracted, which will help produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity and by 2020 a total of 4,000MW will be produced.
Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the new year will be less difficult in terms of power shortage as the expected 1,300MW electricity shortage will be partially met with an additional 1,000MW being added to the system. Discussions were also held among the participants to solve the circular debt issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2011.
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