Pakistan makes progress on LNG imports

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Pakistan has cleared the way for more gas imports through key pipeline projects and through liquefied natural gas, the energy minister said.

Pakistani Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the Pakistani National Assembly in a question and answer session the first LNG terminal will be completed in December.

State-owned import company Pakistan State Oil solicited interest for LNG shipments in May. The government said it was getting China's help with the construction of an LNG terminal and associated pipeline infrastructure at the port city of Gwadar near the Iranian border.

Pakistan and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding for LNG supplies in 2012.

Abbasi said the Gwadar terminal could serve as a bridge with Iran as bilateral pipeline developments have been impeded by international sanctions, Pakistani media reported Thursday.

A rival project, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, has the multilateral agreements and financial support from the Asian Development Bank to move forward, he said.

The poor state of the nation's energy infrastructure is leaving it short on energy supplies, the government said.