Shipping-in energy: Govt pushes for fast-track LNG ship project

KSEW will in the third year of its contract, the Karachi Shipyard will build its first LNG ship.

ISLAMABAD: With the government determined to move forward on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), it  is seeking to build its own ship in this regards in addition to making other changes in the shipyard in anticipation of the energy transfer.

Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday held a meeting at Ministry of Defence Production to review progress of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) and its new project of undertaking of Fast Track LNG Ship.

Hussain said that the project of LNG import through ships will help create Pakistan’s stake in emerging global LNG market. This will also help to build our own ship at zero additional cost etc. Minister for defence production also directed that one window operation should be carried out in this regard.

Asked when Pakistan’s first ship be ready to carry out LNG operations, the KSEW chief stated in the third year of its contract, the Karachi Shipyard will build its first LNG ship.

The minister for defence production termed the project of utmost importance adding that small ships are the requirement for regional transportation where as big ships are meant for trans-Atlantic transportation and our regional dynamics support small shipping structure.

KSEW MD, during the briefing, stated that it is time we should encourage local participation and investment in ship building industry.

He added that technical skill and expertise is available with Karachi Shipyard to initiate any kind of ship building project. “To meet the growing energy requirements of the country Karachi Shipyard is taking a step towards helping national economy.

The project of Fast Track LNG Ship will help in sharing the load of energy requirements in Pakistan,” he said.

KSEW has so far produced 440 ships and recently handed over a 32-ton pusher tug to Pakistan Navy.

The meeting was attended by Lt Gen (retd) Tanvir Tahir, Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Managing Director Rear Admiral Hassan Nasir Shah and other top officials of Ministry of Defence Production and KSEW.