Chinese company sets up camp in Dera

Engineers to conduct research and estimate oil & gas reserves.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Chinese company Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP) has set up camp in Gharib Abad Village of Penyalla to discover oil and gas reserves on Friday.

An official of the district government told The Express Tribune that the company, one of the world’s leading geophysical service companies, will conduct research in Katte Khel, Sheikh Badin, Chashma Barrage and Mai Wali to estimate oil and gas reserves in the area.

The company is not new in Pakistan and has conducted seismic surveys in the country for leading oil giants including Oil and Gas Development Company, Shell and BHP since 1994. Six Chinese engineers in collaboration with Pakistani counterparts will work jointly to collect data for six months, official. The district official said that after compilation of data, the provincial government’s permission will be needed to start any exploration activity.

180 guards, two FC platoons and 80 policemen will be deputed at the project site to provide security to the engineers, official said.

Oil and Gas Exploration Chief Inspector Rawalpindi permitted the Chinese-based company for conducting research work.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2012.