ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The National Assembly was told on Friday that 16 companies have signed 25 petroleum concession agreements during July 2000 to July 2003.

Chaudhry Noraiz Shakoor Khan in a written reply informed the House that the blocks for which the concession agreements were signed include Karsal, Offshore Makran Central, Mehran, Kotra, Karak, Jhamat, Yasin, Sabzal South, Safed Koh, Lugai, Khajuri, Hashpa, Mirpur Mathelo, S W Maini-II, Mancher, Nawabshah, Fateh Jang, Al-Rehman, Kot Sarang, Ziarat, New Block-b, Gorakh, Multanai, Hyderabad, Chakral.

The companies with which the agreements were signed are: Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Mari Gas Company Limited, BP Pakistan Exploration and Production Inc. Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Oilfields Ltd, Government Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Orient Petroleum Ltd. Zaver Petroleum Ltd. Hycarbex Inc. Polish Oil and Gas Company, Rally Energy Pakistan Limited, MESA Petroleum (Pvt) Ltd. Nativus Resources Ltd, RDC International (PVT) Ltd. Petroleum Exploration Limited, OMV (Pakistan) Exploration GmbH, Eni Pakistan Ltd. Tullow Pakistan (Developments) Ltd. Attock Oil Company Ltd and PAIGE Ltd.

To another question, the minister said that two new gas reserves were found in Southern districts of NWFP including Shakardara (near Kohat) and Gurguri (near Karak).

Referring to Shakardara Gas, he said that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has started survey of the route and designing of pipeline and after completion of design and material procurement, the construction work would start, which was expected to be completed by April 2004.

About Gurguri Gas, he said that Gurguri Gas from Manzalai field was under negotiation with MOL while the gas to the tune of 35-50 mmcfd on extended well test basis was expected to be available by September 2004 and transported to Kohat through pipeline.