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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to fast-track the issuance of licenses for domestic exploration of gas, which is the cheapest source of natural gas.
Chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday on gas situation in the country, he also directed the concerned departments to remove hurdles in process of installation of new LNG terminals and virtual pipeline projects by investors.
The meeting was briefed about the demand, supply from the domestic reserves, shortfall and Import of LNG.
It was informed that the current constrained demand of gas in the country is 4700 Million Standard Cubic Feet per day, which increases to 6000-6500 MMCFD during the winter season.
The current domestic supply amounts to 3300 MMCFD, which is decreasing every year. The resulting shortfall has to be managed by importing LNG.
Read more: Questions raised over gas shortage in federal cabinet meeting
For the short term, the existing capacity of domestic terminals is being optimized and the process of issuance of virtual pipeline licenses is expedited.
In addition, the installation of two new LNG terminals is underway with all bottlenecks being removed on priority basis.
Earlier, a meeting of the Federal Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan had a heated debate on the gas crisis as Cabinet members allegedly raised questions about gas load shedding.
According to details, the inside story of the federal cabinet meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of PM Imran Khan came to light. Private TV sources said that government members questioned the gas crisis in the federal cabinet meeting.
