Peshawar—MOL Pakistan, a Hungarian oil & gas exploration company is all set to resume exploration of gas from Manzalai-III from Friday, while Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) would start supply of gas within a period of 10 days.
This was announced by Federal Parliamentary Secretary Industries and Production, Syed Haider Ali Shah MNA while addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Thursday.
He was flanked by Town Nazim, Tal, Amanullah Khan, Nazim Union Council Dallan, Abdul Aziz and members of the local jirga included Malik Omar Khan, Malik Gul Sher Jan, Haji Noor Rehman and Haji Abdullah Jan.
Exploration work on the well was stopped four years back due to the protest of local residents demanding supply of gas as per pledge of the SNGPL for supply of gas within five kilometer radius of the well.
Syed Haider Ali Shah, who is member of the National Assembly from Hangu said that due to keen interest of the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chief Minister NWFP Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, the federal government had released an amount of Rs.130 million for supplying of gas to the residents of the union council.
He said that after the release of the required amount there would be no hurdle in the starting of the exploration work by MOL Pakistan. He said that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has directed MOL to resume work from Friday (today) while the SNGPL would start work within 10 days.
The well has the capacity of 3 mcf, but unfortunately it was not put on the supply line. Similarly, he said that the wells in Sarkai and Chamba Gul have the capacity of 4mcf. The inclusion of the gas in the supply line, he said would help resolve the problem of the gas shortage in the province.
To a question regarding the demands of the local residents, he said that after the release of funds for the supply of gas and assurance of gvernment, no interference or hurdle would be made from the local population as the assurance has been given by them and now the MOL company would be free to resume its exploration work he added.—APP
