ISLAMABAD, (APP): Minister for Petroleum and Natural
Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that five more Liquified
Natural Gas (LNG) based agreements, would be signed with Qatar.
Talking to Voice of America (VOA) on Thursday, he said that
Pakistan has been passing through a severe energy crisis and the
import of LNG from Qatar would be a positive and welcome step to
address the issue.
He said that two countries also signed three other agreements
and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the fields
of Radio, TV, health, and academic research.
Petroleum Minister said that 50 percent needs of energy of
Pakistan depend upon the energy produced by gas.
He said that import of LNG from Qatar has been started
partially but on the basis of need, the LNG has been given to
the users.
He said that under the agreement, three ships carrying LNG
will reach every month in Pakistan in 2016 and next year, adding
that, number of ships will be increased to five after 2017.
To a question, he said that Pakistan has been facing crisis
of energy for several years due to which not only, domestic users
are facing troubles but economy of the country has been affected
badly.
In his comment, former General Manager Sui Southern Gas,
Brigadier (R) Agha Gul also said that the process of buying LNG
from Qatar was going on from 2004.
Talking to VOA, he said; “God willing, this will prove to
be one of the achievements Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has
secured so far.”
He said that people who have some “know-how” of the energy
crisis will term this project as light at the end of the
tunnel.
Agha Gul said the government has made the deal at the time
when petrol prices have reduced which will have a good impact on
the deal.
He said the deal will help in reducing load-shedding by
10 to 15 percent.
APP/qur-meh/mub