Two Pakistani State Energy Firms to Explore for Gas in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has allowed Pakistan’s two state-run oil and gas exploration companies – Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to explore for gas on its territory, according to a report published Friday in Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune.

These companies would be allowed to take part in exploration activities for the export of gas under the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, the newspaper said.

These companies would undertake exploration activities against service charges.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister’s Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Zahid Muzaffar said during a recent visit to Turkmenistan, it was decided by the countries that were part of the TAPI project to hold the next meeting of the TAPI steering committee in Islamabad in February 2015.

He said Russia had also allowed OGDCL and PPL to take part in oil and gas exploration activities.

“Leading Russian oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies have agreed to invest in the upstream oil and gas sector of Pakistan for which modalities are being decided,” the minister was quoted by the newspaper as saying.