Iran has agreed to provide oil to Pakistan on deferred payment. Iranian Minister for Energy Parviz Fattah called on President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday and discussed with him matters pertaining to the region and bilateral ties. He was accompanied by Dy. Minister for Energy Abbas Aliabadi and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan.
Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and senior officials of the relevant ministries were also present during the call.
The Iranian Energy Minister said that Iran was keen to go ahead with projects of providing 1000 MW of electricity for Gwadar and adjoining areas for which MoU had already been signed. He said that Iran would provide oil to Pakistan on deferred payment. The President appreciated the Iranian assistance in this regard.
Parviz Fattah said that Iran and Pakistan had close bilateral ties and were tied by the bonds of history, culture and geography. He said Iran was ready to play its role in defusing tension in the region.
He also renewed the invitation by Iranian President Mahmood Ahmedinijad to President Asif Ali Zardari to visit Iran.
Talking to journalists here, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said that Iran will build a dedicated gas based power plant of 1000 MW capacity near Pakistan border to export electricity to Pakistan.
The minister said the plant to be built by Iranian private sector near Zahidan can be made available for export of power to Pakistan in addition to the earlier agreed 1000 MW project.
He said an Iranian company would complete transmission line of 50 km in Iran side and 70 km in Pakistan side. He said that both sides agreed for early completion of transmission line.
Pervez Ashraf said both sides held a serious of meetings and showed keen desire for strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the power sector. He said during visit of Iranian delegation headed by Engr. Parviz Fatah, Minister of Energy, Iran the status of existing projects in power sector was reviewed and it was agreed to expedite and speed up the implementation and to remove the impediments if any.
He said both sides agreed that while carrying out the feasibility study for the transmission line of 1000 MW, a provision for transmission of an additional 1000 MW would also be kept in view. It was also agreed to execute an implementation plan and fix the time lines for completion of the projects and a mechanism will be established for monitoring and for taking remedial measures in this regard.
Similarly, in addition to the existing technical working committee, a high level monitoring committee at ministerial level will be established. These committees will hold regular meetings at least once in two months or more often as required. The implementation plan was also prepared and agreed jointly.
Pakistan also pointed out projects for investment included coal power projects with a total capacity of about 6000 MW by 2015 requiring an investment of $7 billion, projects of alternate energy for generation of about 1000 MW by 2015 and rehabilitation and reinforcement of T&D system and system for dispersal of power of new generating plants requiring an investment of about $4.7 billion.
The Iranian side showed keen interest in all projects and assured Pakistan side to look into the prospects of investment in the projects by the Iranian companies both in public and private sector.
