Minister Seeks Sanctions Waiver for Iran Gas Imports
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan will jointly finance the multibillion-dollar TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline project, as international funding remains inaccessible due to the global community’s non-recognition of the Afghan government, Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadik Malik announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at Pakistan’s Energy Symposium, Malik emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to the TAPI framework. He revealed a proposal for an LNG train to transport Turkmen gas to Europe. “Turkmenistan, despite being landlocked with vast gas reserves, currently only exports to China,” Malik explained. “The idea is to transport the gas through the pipeline to Pakistan and then by train to Europe.”
Malik also highlighted Pakistan’s interest in importing gas from Iran, despite challenges posed by international sanctions. “Some countries have received waivers, and Pakistan is pursuing similar exemptions,” he said.
On integrating renewable energy into Pakistan’s energy mix, Malik noted the country’s abundant sunlight, wind, water, and nuclear resources. “We can produce large-scale green electricity,” he stated. He pointed out the significant drop in solar and wind energy costs from ¢22 and ¢23 in 2018 to ¢3-5 currently, suggesting a hybrid system leveraging improved battery technology for energy generation from sun, wind, and water.
