May 18, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1427

ISLAMABAD, May 17: Enbridge Pipeline Company of Canada has shown its keen interest to participate in the privatisation of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company (SNGP).

Vice-presidents Lan Macfeely and Tom Schewartz of the Canadian company expressed the desire in a meeting with Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon here on Wednesday.

The minister apprised the visiting officials that a lot of investment potential existed in the upcoming oil and gas projects like setting up LNG terminals, oil and gas exploration and sell-off of SNGPL and SSGC.

He informed them that that the government had deregulated the petroleum sector and was offering lucrative incentives to the prospective investors and facilitating them.

The minister further said that the government was taking concrete steps to bridge the demand and supply gap and actively working on Iran-Pakistan-Indian (IPI) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan (TAP) gas pipeline projects besides import of LNG.

He also briefed them about the upcoming projects including the privatisation process of the state-owned oil and gas companies.

The vice-presidents said that they were visiting Pakistan to acquaint themselves with the investment potential in the oil and gas sector. “We have a keen desire to participate in the privatisation of oil and gas units particularly the SNGPL”, they added.

SNGP Managing Director Rashid Lone briefed them about the profile of the company.