Iran will ensure Pakistan’s energy security, Rouhani said

Almaty. March 28. Silkroadnews - Iran will ensure the energy security of Pakistan, the president of Iran Hassan Rouhani said, IrTAG reports.

“Iran commits to ensure the energy security of Pakistan. We have laid a gas pipeline to the border with Pakistan and we are ready to expand the cooperation. Pakistan’s citizens can be sure that Iran, as a strategic partner, will make every effort to meet the neighboring country’s needs in oil, gas and electricity,” H. Rouhani said, addressing Pakistan-Iran joint business forum in Islamabad.

Project on construction of $7.5-billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline was started in March 2013. Iran, according to the bilateral agreement, has completed the construction of its section of the pipeline. The Islamic Republic has already built its section of the 1.8 km of pipeline from South Pars gas field to the Pakistani border. Further, the pipeline shall go through the Pakistani territory to the city of Nawabshah near Karachi. With the pipeline launch the Iranian gas will provide fuel to the Pakistani power plants.

The Pakistani side delayed the construction of its section explaining the delay with the lack of funds. Currently, according to the agreement with Pakistan, China constructs the section of a branch line from Nawabshah to Gwadar port situated along the coast of the Indian Ocean. Pakistan shall build the remaining section of the pipeline from the Iranian border once China completes its section. China, in its turn, is interested in the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline as a part of the transport corridor linking western China with the Middle East and capable of providing $46 billion turnover.