ISLAMABAD: As talks with Qatar are progressing for import of liquefied natural gas, Prime Min­ister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday app­roved initiating negotiations with other countries as well, including Malaysia, China, Algeria, Nigeria and Trinidad for LNG import.

While chairing the ninth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, the prime minister stated that the government was tapping all sources of energy to increase power generation at affordable rates.

The committee decided that an improved mechanism would be devised for LNG payments on a regular basis to avoid any complications. The committee was informed that the LNG terminal at Port Qasim would be completed next month.

Referring to his meeting with the petroleum ministers of Turkmenis­tan, India and Afghanistan while reviewing the TAPI gas pipeline project, Mr Sharif directed the committee that steps be taken on urgent basis for early start of the 1,680km gas pipeline project which would be immensely beneficial in providing energy security to the region.

The energy committee approved government-to-government negotiations with Russia, Qatar and China for construction of North-South gas pipeline. It has been planned that the 42-inch pipeline will be laid along the new alignment of motorway N-5.

The prime minister was informed that negotiations were under way with Iran for import of electricity but due to international sanctions on Tehran, import would not be possible immediately.

The committee also approved official inclusion of Gwadar-Nawabshah gas pipeline into the early harvest programme of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The federal ministers for Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources briefed the committee on setting up of 3,600MW power generation plant based on regassified LNG.

The prime minister directed that work on preparing feasibility studies and sorting out modalities should be completed as soon as possible, and directed the two ministries to give a detailed presentation on the project to the committee by next week.

About financing of the project, the prime minister approved, in principle, allocation of funds from PSDP for financing the project.

Sharif took notice of unutilised funds relating to generation, transmission and distribution and directed the Economic Affairs Division and the ministries concerned to expedite the foreign-funded projects.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Khwaja Saad Rafique, Abid Sher Ali and Wapda chairman attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn February 13th , 2015

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