Exploration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan: oil, gas firms highlight security challenges

Represent-atives of companies involved in exploration and production of oil and gas on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the increasing insecurity in operational areas. Speaking at the Annual Technical Conference 2012 here, they said that although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan had huge oil and gas potential, but there were serious security challenges. The event was arranged by the media partner of ATC Icarus Inc, the only international PR Company currently operating in Pakistan. Highlighting their firms' corporate social responsibility activities, the representatives said that although their firms allocated significant amounts in this regard, these funds seemed insufficient, disappointing local people. They urged the government to allocate more funds for remote rural areas in these provinces, focusing on education, sanitation, health, drinking water and basic infrastructure, besides creating easy access for investors. They said that their companies were unable to move heavy machinery necessary for drilling activities. Chairman of the ATC Moin Raza Khan said: "This year's annual technical conference has been the most successful and very high quality technical papers were presented. Very learned panellists discussed how to accelerate the E&P activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The two provinces cover more than half the area of the country and have huge mineral potential. Unfortunately, only small portions of these provinces have been explored." Vice-President of ENI Dr Jonathan Craig MD MOL Erno Liptak, MD PPL Asim Murtaza Khan, MD OGDCL Masood Siddiqui and CMO Icarus Tooba Raza also spoke on the occasion. Senator Afrasayab Khattak stated: "There has also been unprecedented rapport between government and industry evident in the mutual understanding and co-operation demonstrated recently during policy making. The continuation of this dialogue and spirit can help cement a relationship that will only be beneficial to both key stakeholders." The ATC conference also highlighted major incentive provided in Petroleum Policy 2012. Dr Asim Hussain congratulated Moin Raza Khan, Ali Murtaza Abbas and Abdul Qayyum for their dedication to the ATC 2012 Ali Murtaza Abbas, the spokesperson for the ATC and the Principle Adviser of MOL oil and gas, stated: "According to our data, around 3,800 line kilometers of 2D seismic surveys and about 3,400 square kilometers of 3D surveys were carried out by E&P companies during the past fiscal year. Further, 57 wells were drilled and 10 discoveries made, of which seven are on Extended Well Testing and the remaining in the appraisal stage."