AS the country’s gas reserves are fast depleting and consumers, either domestic or industrial, are faced with its severe shortage, Prime Minister Imran Khan, whilst chairing a meeting on Wednesday, directed to fast track the issuance of licenses for domestic exploration as it is the cheapest source.
It is lamentable that no serious effort has ever been made in our country for exploration of our indigenous resources, be it oil or gas, and the result is that today our country has become heavily dependent on energy imports which has crippled our economy.
Over the last ten years or so, our people are ceaselessly facing the serious shortage of gas in the winter season but deplorable is the fact that no attention was paid to address the situation.
The latest direction by the Prime Minister must not go unheard and the authorities concerned must wake up from deep slumber and pay attention to secure the country’s future and it will be made possible only when our huge reserves lying unutilized under the land will be explored and brought to use.
The country still has the potential to produce 200,000 oil barrels per day (BPD) and 1.2 billion cubic feet per day gas by launching exploration and production activities in the oil and gas seepage areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a study, oil and gas are present in such a huge quantity that they are coming to the surface of earth but no attention has yet been given to tap them.
Seepage is oil phenomena to find out the oil and gas across the world.In China’s Xinjian province, about two million barrels per day oil is being produced through seepage.
And the huge oil and gas reserves are produced in Virginia State of USA through seepage.
The question is that we are ready to spend billions of dollars on import of expensive fuel but not doing enough to pluck these low hanging fruits.
Is the commission mafia behind the whole scenario and creating hurdles in the domestic exploration?
Then Energy Expert Arshad H Abbassi, has pinpointed that Pakistan has so far ignored the area bordering with India, Rajasthan for oil exploration and production knowing the fact that India on its side of the border is currently producing 1,75,000 barrels per day.
Since domestic oil and gas has enormous potential, we will ask the PM to pay special attention to this end, and incentives be given to both the local and international companies to accelerate the exploration activities in the country.
Success in this area has the potential to change the whole economic landscape of the country.
