ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to bring the standards of petroleum products in Pakistan at par with international standards, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

Talking to Business Recorder on Friday, Khaqan said that only two countries in the world - Pakistan and Somalia - were using non-standardised petroleum products including Motor Sprit (petrol), High Speed Diesel (HSD) and Furnace Oil (FO), adding that now the government has decided to bring all these fuels at par with international standards in a bid to minimise environmental hazards and improving efficiency of fuels. Pakistani refineries have started upgradation to introduce Euro-2 diesel and other products for clean energy. “The government is committed not to allowing sale of substandard oil products and therefore oil refineries have started upgradation which will be completed soon,” he added. “Sometimes, refineries seek extension in date for setting up plants and sometimes they are in need of money,” he said, adding that there should be a strict enforcement of roadmap for refineries to set up plants. The government has prepared a roadmap to introduce Euro-2, 3, 4 and 5 for clean energy in Pakistan,” the minister said. 

According to him India had introduced Euro-3 and Euro-4 diesel and auto manufacturers in Pakistan wanted to export vehicles to India. “Therefore, we need to go to Euro-2, 3 and 4 to capture the Indian auto market,” he said.

The minister said the first shipment of 147,000 cubic feet of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar has arrived in Pakistan by a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU).

The FSRU, after going through clearance, is expected to dock at Engro Corporation’s Elengy Terminal Pakistan Limited (ETPL), where the cargo will undergo ´regasification´ before being injected into the Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) network on March 31, 2015.

The minister said the first LNG ship has been imported by Punjab-based owners of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and fertilizer sector. When he was asked about at what price the commodity is being imported, he declined to reveal the price but said that CNG and fertilizer sector has paid a price of $8 per unit. He said Pakistan and Qatar yet not singed any agreement, saying the price negotiating committee and Qatar gas officials are working on price fixation.

He said Pakistan has given a formula to Iran for completion of Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline. He added that on the route of IP gas line, Pakistan has started building Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG pipeline as in next three years Pakistan’s LNG imports are expected to reach 2 Billion Cubic Feet per Day mark.