Feasibility report of Iran, Pakistan gas pipeline underway

LAHORE: National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) is preparing a feasibility report of a $7.5 billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

According to a press release, a consultancy services agreement for stage 1 of the project has been signed between the Inter State Gas System (Pvt) Ltd (ISGSL) Pakistan and a joint venture of NESPAK and ILF Beratende Ingenievre Gmbh, Germany.

The first stage of the feasibility report will be completed in 14 months after which work on stage two would begin with actual construction of the pipeline, scheduled to be completed by December 2014.

The pipeline will connect Iran's giant South Fars gas field with Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

Pakistan will build about a 700 km long pipeline from its border passing through Makran Coastal Highway to connect with its existing gas transmission network at Nawabshah while Iran would build a 300 km long stretch of the pipeline from Iranshahr to the Pakistani border through the port of Chabahar.

The project will resolve the growing energy crisis in the country as it would generate 5000 megawatt electricity which is equivalent to the present peak shortage of power in the country.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011