Reference media reports in section of media regarding North South Gas Pipeline Project wherein an erroneous impression had been conveyed about Sui North Gas Pipeline Co. claiming to build the project at 1 billion dollars cost as against the projected cost of 2 billion dollars.
The report further claimed that a senior official of the Petroleum Division supported this working paper presented by SNGPL at the Board meeting of said Company, is strongly rebutted by this Division.
It is further clarified that the management of the SNGPL presented only an initial report whereby the Board was informed that the Company could only lay 200 km pipeline of 42 inch dia within the area of Punjab Province. The said company does not have technical capacity/equipment for laying pipeline beyond 42 inch diameter.
It must be known that this estimate excluded the area of the pipeline to be laid in the province of Sindh. And it doesn’t cater for pipeline of a dia of more than 42 inches measurements and this estimate doesn’t cover any specific Scope and TORs of the project which are still being worked out by the Petroleum Division.
The impression being created in this report about Ministry trying to give this project to a foreign company at a high cost is misleading and against the facts.
It is further clarified that no format of execution of the project has yet been finalized as the TORs and scope of the project is being worked out. In the absence of such information the cost of the project cannot be realistically estimated.
Petroleum Division is considering the most optimum and cost effective option of completion of this project of national importance in the light of recently announced judgement of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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