KOHAT, March 26: The NWFP government will supply natural gas to all the southern districts of the province from Gurguri oil and gas fields located 42 kilometres in the northwest of here, in three phases spanning over five years, with an estimated cost of Rs12 billion.

This decision was taken by the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan after meeting a delegation from the region, which called on him at the Chief Minister’s House the other day.

NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq was also present on the occasion.

The delegation, which demanded provision of gas to Hangu, included MNA, Akhunzada Mohammad Siddique, MPA, Qari Mohammad Abdullah Bangash and Senator, Maulana Syed Mohammad Hussain al Hashmi.

Production from the fields could not be started due to the absence of gas plants, and all the wells had been plugged temporarily, the Oil and Gas Development Corporation officials told Dawn.

Mr Momin Khan, Chief Engineer, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines, informed that a production of 10mmcft daily was expected from two wells, whereas the reservoirs in Gurguri were huge and could cater to the needs of the southern parts of the province for a long time.