The government would provide a sovereign guarantee to the gas companies. The ECC also allowed Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to allocate RLNG volumes based on availability and demand of RLNG and keeping in consideration the transportation infrastructure and allied matters. The decision thus removes any ambiguity about allocation of RLNG and now the Ministry of Petroleum has been empowered to take decisions, said an official. He added that North-South gas pipeline is about 1100 KM long from Karachi to Lahore which would not only enable the government to efficiently transport imported RLNG but would also add to the transportation capabilities of Iran-Pakistan and TAPI gas pipeline projects which are expected to come online in the next three to five years. The project would be capable of transporting 1.3 BCFD of gas from Karachi to mid country, sources added.
The ECC has accorded its approval to continue purchase of 74MW energy from Iranian company Tanvir and decided that National Transmission & Dispatch Company limited (NTDCL) would approach National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for extension of existing tariff from 1st of January 2015 to 31st December 2015 under which the purchase would be effected. The WAPDA had entered into an agreement with Tanvir in 2002 for procuring 32 MW electricity, which was later enhanced to 74MW.
The ECC also accorded approval for allocation/release of foreign exchange by Ministry of Finance for the import of another 50,000 metric tons of urea out of total 250,000 metric tons, which was approved by the ECC earlier this year to avert shortage of this commodity. The import is being carried out by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan.
The ECC imposed a ban on export of donkey hides till such time that a regulatory mechanism was put in place by the provinces for proper disposal of carcasses of animals. An official said the meeting was informed that a significant number of donkey hides have reportedly been sent abroad after sale of their meat in local markets. The ECC asked the Ministry of Food Security to convey the decision to the provincial governments to ensure that a proper mechanism for disposal of remains of donkeys was enforced as early as possible. Sources said that the meeting deferred a proposal on allocation of gas from Jhal Magsi gas field on a temporary basis for power generation.