ISLAMABAD: Russia has signed an agreement with Pakistan on offshore oil and gas exploration activities, besides laying a pipeline to supply gas to the country from its Middle East resources through the sea link.

The inter-corporate deal was signed by Managing Director of Inter-State Gas Systems Limited of Pakistan Mobin Saulat and Deputy Chairman of Gazprom International of Russia Vitaly A. Markelov here on Wednesday, a petroleum division press release said. Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan witnessed the signing ceremony between the two companies.

Appreciating the expanding trajectory of relations between Russia and Pakistan, the minister welcomed Gazprom’s interest in the offshore gas pipeline project and termed it a manifestation of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The project envisages transporting of gas molecules from Gazprom’s sources in the Middle East onwards to Pakistan with the possibility of extending it further to South Asian countries. The pipeline will follow an integrated approach including other ancillary projects such as underground gas storage, desalination and other power projects.

Under agreement, Pakistan will import 500 million to one billion cubic feet gas per day to be transported via sea link

Under the agreement, Pakistan will import 500 million to one billion cubic feet gas per day from Russia to be transported via the sea link. The pipeline construction is expected to complete within four years.

The Russian side thanked Pakistan for the facilitation being extended in preparing necessary groundwork for the project, renewing the commitment to further enhancing the existing energy cooperation between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2019