LNG imports: PQA to seek expert help in framing rules

Ministry asks the authority to hire services of a reputable consultant.

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has asked the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to engage a reputed international consultant for providing technical support in framing rules and standards for a fast-track construction of gas terminals, and other requirements.

In a letter to the PQA, the ministry said issues pertaining to the use of jetties at the port had been taken up in a meeting held on October 11, chaired by the minister for petroleum and natural resources and attended by the PQA chairman and the director of Ministry of Ports and Shipping, sources say.

Earlier, in a letter sent to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal developers including Engro Vopak Terminal Limited (EVTL) and Fotco on October 8, the PQA had expressed reservations about the use of jetties for handling LNG imports in the port’s main channel, asserting that it could be hazardous for the port, and the surrounding industrial installations and population.



In the meeting, the PQA chairman pointed to the limitations faced by the port authority in coming up with required rules and standards and meeting safety requirements for handling LNG vessels and other related infrastructure.

A consultant had pointed out that the government should introduce port regulations without which LNG import would not be feasible. According to officials, the PQA has not framed any regulations to regulate LNG imports at the port.

“Therefore, services of a reputed international consultant is required to be engaged for providing necessary technical support to the PQA in helping develop requisite rules and standards to fast-track LNG import terminals and (meet) overall requirements of the port,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted that the PQA supported ongoing tendering process and had no objection to further progress subject to meeting safety and technical requirements.

The consultant had identified different tasks and jobs to be performed by the PQA and the rules needed to be framed to handle LNG imports.

The consultant asked the government to prepare an implementation agreement relating to LNG, develop PQA study guidelines and approve environmental impact assessment of the successful bidder.

It also called for sourcing suitable tugs according to the results of real time simulations for active escorting, manoeuvring, berthing and un-berthing of LNG vessels. It suggested a review of the existing quantitative risk assessment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.

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