Oil Minister Slams Pakistan’s Inaction on Gas Deal with Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh highlighted the problems facing the completion of a long-awaited gas pipeline between Iran and Pakistan, saying that Islamabad has no clear answer about its plans for “the valid gas contract”.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga, Zanganeh said Hungary has experience in the Pakistani gas sectors, including exploration and production and has operated in the country for many years.
He further pointed to Pakistan’s failure to meet its undertakings under a gas deal with Iran and said, “Our problem in working in Pakistan’s gas sector is that the country does not have a clear answer as to how it would treat the valid contract on Iran’s gas exports to Pakistan.”
Iran has already completed construction of the Iranian section of a pipeline that allows for exporting gas to Pakistan.
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, which stretches for 900 kilometers only in Iran, has been designed to help populous Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs.
Pakistan has fallen short of constructing the 700-kilometer part of the pipeline on its territory.