In what is likely to add a new lease of life to existing strained commercial ties between two strategic neighbours, India has agreed to rescue Pakistan of its daily power woes by providing fuel under a deal that the two nations are expected to sign shortly.
A high-level delegation from Pakistan is likely to visit New Delhi by the month-end to finalise the contours of a deal under which India will supply 5 million standard cubic meters of gas per day (mmscmd) for five years through a 110-kilometer pipeline from Jullundhur to the international border near Lahore.
This can run a power plant of up to 1,200 MW.
Pakistan has been facing tremendous power shortage and its major cities are being supplied with only 6-7 hours of electricity per day. Petroleum and natural gas minister Veerappa Moily said in a recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that while talks are on to have inter-power grid connectivity with Pakistan, this may take atleast three-four years. Till then, India can supply R-LNG (or regassified liquefied natural gas) to Pakistan through a pipeline constructed by GAIL, said Moily.
{{/usCountry}}Pakistan has been facing tremendous power shortage and its major cities are being supplied with only 6-7 hours of electricity per day. Petroleum and natural gas minister Veerappa Moily said in a recent letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that while talks are on to have inter-power grid connectivity with Pakistan, this may take atleast three-four years. Till then, India can supply R-LNG (or regassified liquefied natural gas) to Pakistan through a pipeline constructed by GAIL, said Moily.
{{/usCountry}}Three rounds of talks have taken place and an Indian delegation led by petroleum ministry brass and officials of GAIL had visited Pakistan last month.