ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: The Hungarian oil and gas company, MOL, has decided to expand its operations in Pakistan by drilling more exploratory wells during 2006. In addition, MOL is also working on a number of potential projects after having made significant hydrocarbon discoveries in Tal block of NWFP.

According to a statement issued by local MOL office on Thursday, the company has started supplying more than 50 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from its Manzali-1 (Gurguri) well to SNGPL at Kohat.

It said it was also producing 500 barrels per day crude oil from Makori-1 besides, substantial quantity of gas. It has recently announced successful completion of tests for the third well called Manzali-2 in the block.

MOL’s core activities are exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and gas products, refining, transportation, storage, and distribution of crude oil products in retail and wholesale markets, as well as Import, transportation, storage, and wholesale trading of natural gas and other products.

The firm is working in Pakistan through its subsidiary MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Co. B.V. since April 1999. The petroleum concession and exploration license was granted to MOL (TAL Block no. 3370-3) in NWFP with the joint venture partners--Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Government Holdings (Pvt.) Limited (GHPL) and Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) for exploration of oil and gas.

According to the statement, the MOL group has appointed Mr. Janos Laszlo Feher as the new general manager, MOL Pakistan.