• He said Russia has offered two of its eight kinds of crude oils
• Talks with Russian energy minister to buy petroleum products underway
• He said, “We are bringing 20,000 tons of additional Liquefied LPG.”

ISLAMABAD: Russian Energy Minister was arriving Pakistan next month to finalise negotiations to import crude oil from Russia on discounted rates, Minister of State for Petroleum Division Musadik Malik said on Friday.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Musadik Malik said a Pakistani delegation, after consulting three Pakistani refineries, recently visited Moscow and held productive discussions to import crude oil and finished petroleum products from Russia. He said Russia has offered two of its eight kinds of crude oils, which were also processable at Pakistani refineries.

Answering a question regarding Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statement that Pakistan was neither importing oil from Russia nor making any efforts for the purpose, Musadik Malik said at present Pakistan was not importing oil from Russia but was in a process of negotiations with the Russian energy minister to buy petroleum products.

He, however, said a detailed technical analysis of talks with the Russian authorities would be sent to the Foreign Ministry to end confusion in this regard.

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The minister of state said a framework agreement to import Liquefied Natural Gas from Azerbaijan on government to government basis was under consideration, which would likely be signed soon. He said the two countries were also considering establishing a Joint Global Energy Trading company to buy any distressed cargo from the international market.

Musadik Malik said, “We have also expressed our desire to revive Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, which will provide additional piped gas to Pakistan.” He said efforts were also being made to have an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to buy LNG.

Regarding availability of gas in the country, the minister of state said the coalition government was making all out efforts to provide additional gas to the consumers during the current and upcoming months. He said, “We are bringing 20,000 tons of additional Liquefied Petroleum Gas and LPG shops are being set up in various parts of the country where piped gas is not available.” He said two additional cargoes would be imported from Qatar during next two months.

Replying to a question, the minister of state said we are managing gas shortfall and instructions have been given to maintain gas pressure during timings for cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Musadik Malik also made it clear that the government is devising a new energy policy to boost economic growth to accelerate development, create employment opportunities and reduce inflation in the country.