Pakistan heading towards serious gas crisis: study

Pakistan is heading fast towards serious gas crisis as its demand and supply ratio is not showing equilibrium beyond 2007, Hagler Bailly, Pakistan, claims in a feasibility study conducted in 2006, for Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas line project.

The study indicates that Pakistan is going to witness gas shortage from 2007 onward and imbalance will increase every year to touch the highest level in 2025, when shortage will be 11092 MMCFD against total 13259 MMCFD production.

The study depicts very bleak picture as far as Pakistan’s gas resources, demand and supply are concerned. The study is alarming and a wake up call for those who are at the helm of affairs.

It’s yet to be officially ascertained how real and authentic information of the study is. However, majority of independent analysts of oil and gas sector agree that Pakistan could face serious problem in gas supply after few years.

This correspondent contacted some very senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum to know what exactly the situation of gas demand and supply would be from 2007 onward. They conceded that as a result of high growth gas demand was showing upward trend and indigenous production would not be enough to maintain existing pattern of supply. However, they expected a major breakthrough in gas supply through some foreign source to keep things going.

Business Recorder