Islamabad: Pakistani and Russian officials are scheduled to hold pivotal talks on the North-South gas pipeline project today (Tuesday), a news source reported. As per details, the two sides are expected to decide the course of action with regard to the finalisation of technical, commercial, and pipeline transmission tariff – as well as the initiative’s BOOT agreements.
A Russian delegation, led by Deputy Energy Minister Anatoli Tikhinov, recently arrived in Pakistan for the 7th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) session on the North-South gas pipeline project. Russia plans to complete bilateral discussions on commercial and technical features of the pipeline by March.
The 1,400-kilometre-long pipeline, with a 42-inch diameter, will have the capacity to carry 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day. The estimated cost of the gas pipeline is USD 2.1 billion. Previously, the project had remained delayed for four years. The Russian government on Pakistan’s insistence recently offered a sanction-free structure for the project’s completion.
Advisor
to the Prime Minister (PM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said that the officials
from the two sides would hold a meeting today wherein they would confirm the timeline
for the completion of various agreements; expected to be finalised by April 15.
The project will be executed under the government-to-government arrangement, he
added.
