ISLAMABAD: Tehran has said it has completed 18 percent of the work for the pipeline to bring gas from its South Pars field to the Iran-Pakistan border, adding that it will finalize the deal to sell gas to the neighboring country even if India walked out.The statement was made by Iranian Minister of Energy Parviz Fattah who is leading a high level delegation of Iranian investors and heads of major power sector manufacturing companies during meetings with senior Pakistani officials.
The pipeline would initially carry 60 million cubic metres of gas daily to Pakistan and India, half for each country. The pipeline's capacity would later rise to 150 million cu metres.
Pakistan has yet to begin work on a 1,000 km (625 mile) stretch of the pipeline to link Iran with India.
Iran has the world's second-largest gas reserves after Russia. But sanctions, politics and construction delays have slowed its gas development, and analysts say Iran is unlikely to become a major exporter for a decade.
Fattah, stressing the need for enhancing bilateral cooperation, has also offered supply of more electricity to Pakistan to overcome energy crises.
He offered to export electricity from its port at Chabahar, which is nearest to Gwadar port where a power plant of 500 MW is being constructed by Iran and will be ready within next six months.
He said Iran is already supplying electricity to many countries including Syria, Tajikistan and Iraq and is keen to export the required electricity to Pakistan.
Iran also expressed its interest to build a dedicated 1000 MW Gas Power plant at Zahidan near Pakistan border for export of power to Pakistan.
The Iranian delegation was informed that the government will welcome such initiatives and will extend full cooperation and work out the modalities.
Pakistani officials said that government is interested to purchase more power transformers of various capacities from Iran with speedy delivery.
During visit both sides will discuss ways to promote investment in the power projects and import of 1000 MW electricity from Iran. The two countries will explore new opportunities for cooperation in power sector besides further strengthening their bilateral relations.
The Iranian minister and members of his delegation are holding meetings with representatives of various Pakistani bodies in power sector to discuss possibilities of investments with special focus on cooperation between private sectors of the two countries.
Several Iranian companies are interested in upgrading projects of transmission lines, investment in thermal and alternative energy projects and manufacture of power transformers and switch gears equipment along with transfer of technology.
Pakistan is currently importing 40 MW from Iran for coastal areas of Balochistan. The import of power is being enhanced by additional 100 MW for Gwadar port for which an agreement has already been signed.
The delegation informed that M/s. Sunir of Iran will construct the transmission line on both sides of the border for which negotiations on award of contract are in progress.
Both sides expressed interest and resolve to enhance bilateral cooperation and agreed on strict timeline and milestones to carry forward the already initiated projects in the shortest possible time.
this news published by www.apakistannews.com
