ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: A leading Chinese oil and gas company, Sichuan Petroleum Administration (SPA), a subsidiary of China Natural Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), has shown keen interest to invest in oil and gas sector of Pakistan.

According to a press release, a delegation led by the company‘s director international cooperation Li Aimin currently on a visit to Pakistan held meeting with Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Usman Aminuddin and Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Moinuddin Haider.

The delegation is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of a Pakistani oil and gas exploration company, Petroleum Exploration Limited.

During their meetings the leader of the delegation said that there existed a vast scope for Chinese companies to exploit the business potential in Pakistan.

Terming the government policies as investment friendly Li Aimin indicated that SPA was planning to invest substantially in oil and gas sector in Pakistan. The delegation has described the visit as positive and very encouraging.

The company intends to explore the possibilities to interact with the public and the private sector companies engaged in oil and gas exploration in Pakistan. SPA is already operative in Pakistan.

One of its rigs has successfully drilled well No 13 in Adhi for Pakistan Petroleum Limited and is currently working on PPL’s Adhi well No 14. The company is planning to bring two brand new rigs, capable of drilling up to 7,000 metres, to Pakistan.

Sichuan Petroleum Administration has more than 40 years of experience in oil and gas exploration, production and marketing. It is accredited to have built the largest natural gas industry in China.

The company is known to have advance expertise, equipment and professional force to undertake all aspects of petroleum exploration, development and production, which include geophysical survey and exploration, drilling engineering, mud logging, formation coring, well cementing and logging, perforation, fracturing and oxidzing.

The company excels in drilling and production technology, ground engineering and construction and corrosion prevention. The company is also a technical service provider and has friendly cooperation relationship with oil and gas companies in more than 20 countries.

SPA also manufactures CNG vehicle equipment and CNG refuelling stations, which have been praised by domestic and foreign customers for its technology and quality service.

Active participation of SPA in petroleum industry is viewed optimistically as a welcome addition by economic and petroleum exploration experts and analysts.

The delegation also held meetings with M. Abdullah Yusuf, secretary petroleum; DG Petroleum Concessions; chairman, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority; Chief executive officer, Government Holdings Ltd; Gen (retd) Mohammad Afzal Janjua, managing director, Mari Gas company; and various other senior government officials.

They are scheduled to meet senior functionaries of multinational oil and gas companies working in Pakistan.