ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Friday that the government is making all out efforts to explore and exploit shale gas resources in the country to overcome energy crisis.
Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the House during question hour that according to a US study there are reserves of 95 trillion cubic feet of shale gas and 14 billion barrels of shale oil in the lower and middle Indus Basin.
He pointed out that the exploration expenditures are being worked out.
The Minister said we have the technology to explore shale gas and the domestic companies have been given the task.
To a question, the Minister said the government has passed on maximum benefit of declining oil prices in the international market to the masses.
Replying to another question, Petroleum Minister said a project for laying gas pipeline from Abbottabad to Mansehra has been approved and hopefully the work will start next month.
He said that 188 billion rupees have been collected as Gas Infrastructure Development Cess from 1st January, 2012 to 15th February, 2016.
He said the GIDC will be utilized by the federal government in connection with infrastructure development of Iran-Pakistan Pipeline project, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline Project, LNG and other ancillary projects. NNI
