By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday inaugurated a project to enhance the production of gas from Kandhkot gas field as another step forward to overcome the energy shortage of the country.
The prime minister unveiled the plaque of the facility that had been accomplished within a short span of time through fast track drilling.
The Kandhkot Gas Field was discovered in 1959 and started gas production in 1983 due to low gas demand at that time. Currently, there are 36 development wells in the gas field which has a reservoir of 549 billion cubic feet gas wherein modern technology is being used to extract gas.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister congratulated Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) for completing the challenging task, handed over to them last year by Cabinet Committee on Energy.
He said the objective of the project was to help generate another 450 Megawatt of electricity from Guddu Power Plant to fulfill the power needs during summer season.
He said the project involved drilling and compression besides the installation of a power plant in Guddu but consequent to the efforts of the PPL’s workers, all had been achieved.
Prime Minister said the project also helped save $250 million to $300 million against imported gas which was the only option to fuel the power plant if the gas supply from Kandhkot Gas Filed would not have been enhanced.
He directed the PPL to enhance the exploration activities in all four provinces as its main mandate.
Prime Minister Shahid Abbasi said more than 100 gas discoveries had been made during the current government that had also ensured 100 per cent reserves replenishment by discovering gas resources equaling the one consumed during the period.
He said extension of Sui Gas Field was also underway that would benefit both the people of Balochistan as well as the PPL.
He said that the PPL was playing a basic but invisible role to mitigate the power crisis as a fundamental step for country’s progress.
