Image: PID
Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik has told the media that things are moving in the right direction and Pakistan is likely to receive the first Russian crude oil consignment this month. He said while talking to the businessmen, petroleum dealers and industrialists in Karachi that “Import of crude oil from Russia will start this month”.
Last year, Pakistani authorities said that, just like our neighbour India, we are also contemplating buying Russian crude oil.
However, later Russia said that it will only be able to offer oil to Pakistan after March on certain conditions.
The Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov on his visit to Pakistan said that “We are discussing with Islamabad whether payment could be made in the currencies of ‘friendly’ countries.”
He further said that “As for the supply of crude oil and petroleum products, we conceptually agreed on the development and signing of an agreement that will determine and resolve all issues of logistics, insurance, payment and volumes.”
According to Malik, oil dealers have given some suggestions for providing cheap petrol. He said, “The ministry of petroleum will prepare a scheme for supply of cheap petrol only after reviewing it.”
He also said that Pakistan’s gas reserves are depleting very fast and that they country could have another winter without gas.
Malik added, “Our gas reserves are depleting and round-the-clock gas supply is not possible. The demand for gas increases from November. Due to rains and cold weather in Balochistan, the demand for gas has increased there.” He continued, “We are making efforts to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas to the consumers during suhoor and iftar hours [in Ramazan]. In this regard, we have also spoken to the governor of Sindh. However, I will request people to pay their bills.” He also blamed the poor infrastructure for the gas load shedding in Karachi. He said, “Due to the lack of infrastructure in Karachi, there are obstacles in the supply of gas to some areas.”
Topics #Breaking #featured #Latest #Load shedding #News #Pakistan #russia #trending pakistan #Updates
