The security strategy, planned out at a meeting between Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Imtiaz Kazi and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, comes as a result of terrorist attacks in Jaffarabad on February 4 in which two Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) employees were killed.
“We had been engaged in discussions to chalk out an effective remedy to the security problems. As a result, oil companies and the Balochistan government have decided to form district-level committees, take all stakeholders on board and ensure congenial environment for smooth operations,” said a petroleum ministry official.
He said the committees – headed by the deputy commissioner concerned – would examine the security plan for pipelines and give suggestions for further improvement of security of exploration sites, staff and equipment.
The Balochistan government has agreed to resolve such matters through involvement of the civilian administration, and the official hoped these efforts would send positive signals to companies operating in Balochistan and encourage investment in the oil and gas sector.
In a bid to overcome energy shortage, OGDCL is going to develop five oil and gas fields to produce 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 500 tons of liquefied petroleum gas per day.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2011.
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