ISLAMABAD: Russia is ready to extend financial and technical assistance to Pakistan in order to complete the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project as a part of the new Russian policy to look towards South Asia.
This was announced by a Russian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Yury Sentyurin in a meeting with the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Islamabad on Wednesday, a top official who was part of the meeting told media.
A state-owned Russian company, Gazprom, or one of its subsidiaries will soon make a formal contact with the Pakistani government to execute the IP gas pipeline project.
Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil and is helping to build the 700-kilometer part of the pipeline on the Pakistani side. The pipeline project is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.
The official said that Russia has also decided to play a role in accomplishing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and wants to become part of a consortium which is to execute the project.
Apart from it, Russia has also clearly indicated to Pakistan that it wants the electricity trade project (CASA-1,000) to be extended to Russia as it is rich in electricity and is currently exporting power to Mongolia, China and Europe.
The official said that Russia has also sought a role in developing coal-based projects at Gadani, arguing that it has the best expertise in the world to make such coal based projects.
Moreover, the Russian delegation also offered its services to install power projects based on the lignite coal of Thar.
