Securing Energy Sector : Need of the hour for Pakistan

The ministries in concern are also contemplating over potential vulnerabilities from air or sea attacks in refineries at Karachi and Morgah and about their crude oil supplies and storages to maintain the continuity of their production.

A 45-day reserve of petroleum products was estimated as a requirement to be maintained as minimum war stamina. The Ministries of Finance, defense, petroleum, industries, and commerce of Pakistan and their associated agencies ruled out a plan of action for the existing local refineries to be upgraded and modernized in a gradual manner to suit the demand.

Aviation and transport fuel stocks for an immediate defense requirement is required to be maintained, through oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the civil sector at all seaports and airports, for at the least 25 days and 45days respectively. However, according to some informed sources, the defence stratagem is running in deficit of general service reserves be able to maintain only a 20-day cover in the depots of the forces while the 25-day minimum strategic reserve supposed to be maintained by the petroleum division through Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and other OMCs is still to be properly achieved.  

The requirements on the charts are in addition to the establishment of two brand new refineries, one by PSO in collaboration with foreign investors and the other commenced by Pak-Arab Refinery Company (Parco) project on the coasts, with a capacity of 250,000-300,000 barrels per day are under initial stages of implementation.

Another detailed implementation of an operation to improve the energy movement within the country with the help of five projects are currently in works.

The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in an association with Port Qasim Authority and Fauji Oil Terminal Company is constructing a new wharf at Port Qasim to handle MoGas imports and a repository to handle more than 325,000 tonnes per day at Karachi, Taru, Jabba, Thallian etc.

A few pipeline projects are under initiation for multiproduct movement from Memhoodkot via Thallian near Raw­al­pindi to Taru-Jabba near Peshawar, from Gwadar to Kashgar, from Keamari to Port Qasim in addition to the white pipeline project taken over by Pak-Arab Pipeline Company Limited and Parco to ensure a uniform movement of motor gasoline.

The officials informed about an underground and largely invisible network of transmission lines constructed with their valve assemblies and other potentially vulnerable points heavily guarded and could only be accessed with proper pipeline sketches.

Theoretical suggestions regarding an increase in gas storage during summers to accommodate high demand in winters are on the table but could not be paid much attention and deemed unfeasible due to the demand-supply shortfall during the summer season.

The ministries in concern are also contemplating over potential vulnerabilities from air or sea attacks in refineries at Karachi and Morgah and about their crude oil supplies and storages to maintain the continuity of their production.