ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is embarking on a groundbreaking project to reclaim land from the sea and construct an artificial island to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration. The platform, set to be located 300 kilometers off the coast of Sindh, will serve as a crucial launch pad for PPL’s exploration activities, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Arshad Palekar, PPL’s General Manager of Exploration and Core Business Development, revealed the details at an oil and gas conference in Islamabad. He explained that the artificial island, which will stand six feet above sea level, is designed to withstand high tides and ensure uninterrupted exploration activities around the clock.
The project, marking a first for Pakistan, draws inspiration from similar successful offshore island constructions in Abu Dhabi, where artificial islands have been used for drilling operations. The island is expected to be completed by February, with operations slated to begin immediately thereafter.
The initiative comes on the heels of PPL’s recent strategic partnership with Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC), a subsidiary of Turkey’s state oil firm TPAO. This collaboration, announced last month, focuses on the farm-out process of the Eastern Offshore Indus C Block, a key move to boost offshore exploration and strengthen energy ties between Pakistan and Turkey.
Pakistan’s oil and gas sector plays a vital role in the country’s economy, yet it faces a significant domestic supply-demand gap, especially in oil production. In response, the government has ramped up efforts to explore new offshore opportunities. Last month, the Ministry of Energy awarded 23 offshore exploration blocks to four consortia, some in partnership with foreign firms like TPAO. This marked Pakistan’s first offshore bidding round in nearly two decades, covering 53,500 square kilometers of potential energy-rich zones.
