ISLAMABAD: The Federal Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday categorically denied any external pressure on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline or the proposal to revoke the project.
However, he admitted that the project has been delayed due to international sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
During the question hour of the Senate’s session in Islamabad on Tuesday, the petroleum minister said that Iran has completed 900 kilometers gas pipeline from the South Pars gas field to Iranshehr, while work on remaining 250 kilometers pipeline is likely to start soon.
Abbasi said that Pakistan has completed phase-I of the project and work on the phase-II will be initiated after international sanctions are lifted on Iran.
To another question, the petroleum minister said that the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar will start by the end of this year. He said the government intends to invite open tenders for procurement of LNG to maintain transparency.
The minister said that Pakistan State Oil Company and Qatar Gas Operating Company have been nominated by respective governments to negotiate import of LNG from Qatar. He added that terms and conditions and the prices are yet to be discussed and finalized.
