No gas reserves found at Kekra-I block: Senate told

• Pakistan's indigenous gas production stood at 3.5 billion cub feet (BCF) against the demand of 7.5 BCF.
• The average power price in the country is Rs10.92 per unit and the users are provided electricity at rate of Rs15.53 per unit.

Energy Minister Omar Ayub informed the Senate on Friday, that no gas reserves were found at the Kekra-I block.

The Minister of Energy informed the Senate that the Kekra-I block was excavated for gas exploration but unfortunately the mine was found to be dry. Ayub told the Senate that because of sanctions on Iran, work on the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project was halted.

The minister told the House that Pakistan’s was a gas deficit country as the country’s indigenous gas production stood at 3.5 billion cub feet (BCF) against the demand of 7.5 BCF. Ayub said that around 1.2 BCF Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was being imported to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The minister said at present gas was being allocated to SNGPL and SSGCL on the basis of its discovery in respective province. Further the companies have been directed to meet the requirement of domestic / commercial sector.

Omar Ayub informed that that the average power price in the country is Rs10.92 per unit and the users are provided electricity at rate of Rs15.53 per unit.

The minister told the House that by 2025 the rate of electricity would come down, as the government is focusing on increasing share of renewable energy to provide cheap electricity to consumers. Energy Minister Omar Ayub told the Upper House during question hour that government is striving to bring electricity price to Rs.4.35 per unit by introducing renewable energy projects.

He said that previous governments preferred costly RLNG projects instead of using renewable sources.