ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says the government is determined to enhance gas and electricity production in the country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Tolanj gas processing facility in Kohat on Tuesday evening, he said all available resources are being utilised to achieve this objective.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Tolanj gas processing plant is the largest gas facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it will generate twenty million cubic feet gas per day.
The prime minister lauded the role of MOL Pakistan for installing the Tolanj gas processing plant. He hoped more investment will be made by private entrepreneurs in the oil and gas sector.
He also lauded the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for helping in the installation of the plant.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra was also present on the occasion.
The project has been completed at a cost of $15 million by MOL Pakistan and will reportedly generate a revenue of $31 million per annum.
The processing facility was commissioned on December 5, 2017. It had commenced production from Tolanj X-1 and Tolanj West-1 gas wells in Kohat, a leap step forward towards making Pakistan self-sufficient in the energy sector.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was making great progress in all spheres of life due to his government’s prudent economics and energy policies and the long inherited problem of load shedding was successfully addressed.
He recalled that when the present PML-N government took over in 2013 the country was facing acute gas and electricity shortages, adding, but now every sector including the domestic consumers as well as the industry was getting gas supply. Similarly, the Prime Minister said the issue of electricity shortages had also been addressed to a large extent due to the government’s efforts.
He said the government was encouraging business groups, corporate entities and foreign investors to take full advantage of the facilities offered by his government and bring investment in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said Tolanj gas processing facility was the largest gas project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and would help better the gas supply in the area. He appreciated MOL Pakistan for heavy investment in the country and making this project a success story, which he termed as a “win-win” for all. It was an efficient and modern plant, he added.
Executive Vice President Upstream MOL Pakistan Dr Berislav Gaso, said his group has already invested over one billion dollars in oil and gas sectors in Pakistan and its direct subsidiary oil and gas companies are working in this country since 1999 and are significantly contributing in the development of Pakistan.
For nearly two decades, he said, MOL Pakistan was playing a pro-active role in Pakistan Oil and Gas sector and has been contributing to its funds in order to help mitigate the problem of energy shortfall.
With the launch of Tolanj facility, he said, we are looking forward to making large-scale investment in this country with the cooperation of Government of Pakistan.
MOL Regional Advisor Middle East, Africa and Pakistan Ali Murtaza Abbas appreciated Prime Minister of Pakistan’s commitment in strengthening and streamlining the energy sector of the country. He said inauguration of the Tolanj facility was a great achievement and historic day for people of KP, especially for Kohat.
CEO MOL Pakistan said the plant has successfully started operation after thorough inspection and re-testing of its all components. He said these measures have given immense confidence to all stakeholders for safe, sustainable and long term operations of this plant and commended teams and engineers for its successful operations.
The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra formally inaugurated the plant by unveiling the plaque.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Islamabad and MOL Pakistan were also present on the occasion who briefed the Prime Minister about salient features of this gigantic project.
Earlier upon arrival in Kohat, the Prime Minister was warmly received by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and other senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and MOL Pakistan.
