KARACHI (March 14, 2010): Sindh province may see some relief in energy supply, as the provincial government is negotiating a two-year deal with a power generation firm for establishment of a 600 megawatts coal-based power plant at a cost of 500 million euros. Sindh cabinet in its meeting on Saturday, which was chaired by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, approved the Sindh Shops and Establishment Security Bill-2010.

ISLAMABAD (March 14, 2010): Taking exception to an ambiguous slab structure of gas pricing, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Saturday formed a special committee with the mandate to simplify and overhaul gas billing system. The committee met with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the chair, took up the audit paras depicting financial embezzlement or irregularities in the accounts of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

ISLAMABAD (March 14, 2010): Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Saturday directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to devise a policy on CNG stations operating in residential areas, creating nuisance and hazards for residents. The committee met under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan asked the concerned ministry to report the PAC in the next meeting, suggesting either the relocation of these stations or restrict their functions to the day light.

KARACHI (March 14, 2010): It is commonly conceived in the country that the electricity crisis is because of the power shortages against its demand. But the real challenge here is to run the power generation plants up to their existing capacity, which is enough to meet the current electricity demand.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has placed on ice the joint proposal of the Vitol/Fauji Foundation for annual LNG supply of 3.5 million tons contract under 'LNG Mashal Project' despite an offer of the lowest price, saying that they had submitted the proposal quite late, Business Recorder has learnt.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): The government has decided to inject Rs 45 billion to cash-straved Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for clearing the dues of oil refineries and to pen Letters of Credit (L/Cs) for oil import, Business Recorder has learnt. Sources said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took the decision in a meeting held on Friday.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): Pakistan and Iran will sign Operational Agreement on Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas Pipeline in Tehran on March 16 to start work on the project. The Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was informed by the high ups of Petroleum Ministry here on Friday in a meeting he chaired on energy situation.

ISLAMABAD (March 13, 2010): The government is working on the launching of convertible bond at about 7.75 percent for Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL), Federal Minister for Privatisation Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan said during an informal chat with the media persons in his chambers on Friday.

KARACHI (March 13, 2010): The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is likely to raise unaccounted for gas (UFG) limits set for gas companies from existing 5.5 percent to 6.5 to 7 percent, market sources said. They said that Ogra is considering to give some relaxation on UFG target set for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL).

KARACHI (March 13, 2010): The fourth International LPG Conference and Exhibition--'LPG Exp Con 2010'-- will be held in Islamabad on March 25, 2010. The event is being organised by LPG Association of Pakistan (LPGAP), Publicity Channel, and Energy Update. The conference is also being supported by Paris-based World LP Gas Association, Pakistan's Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, and LPG Distributors Association of Pakistan.