Hungarian based oil and gas exploration and production company-MOL Pakistan on Thursday rejected FIA's initial inquiry report accusing its officials with the connivance of government officials of stealing crude worth billion of rupees. While talking to Business Recorder, representatives of MOL Pakistan stated that they had discussed the matter with the Director General Oil-Regulator of downstream companies and he agreed with their version, however FIA's inquiry report did not include it.
FIAs initial report concluded that the national exchequer faced billions of rupee loss due to theft of crude oil through illegal extraction from the main oil transmission line, use of water bowzers and through connivance with public officials. MOL representatives expressed their commitment to offer all possible assistance to relevant authorities to investigate crude oil theft from TAL Block of KP; and claimed they were open to any investigation within the bounds of law however they did not agree with the findings of the inquiry report.
MOL representatives further maintained that the company has faced multiple inquiries on this issue and had provided assistance to law enforcement machinery in investigating the issue to its logical conclusion. No past inquiry had implicated MOL Pakistan as a company and any aspersion to that effect is malicious. Representatives of the company attend the proceedings of the National Assembly Standing Committee only when required by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resource, the relevant authority that regulates their agreement with the government of Pakistan, they added.
An official of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources revealed to Business Recorder that FIA report may not impact on MOLs exploration activities after they were extended an assurance by the Ministry. FIA report states that the allegations under probe are mainly related to the mega theft of crude oil through different modes: (i) by puncturing the main oil transmission line at different place, (ii) use of water bowzers for the transportation of stolen oil; and (iii) illegal enhancement of the storage capacity of the oil tankers to transport the stolen oil from the field with the connivance of government servants and others.
National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum was informed in February 2016 that MOL with the connivance of the contractor was stealing crude oil and causing billions of rupee loss to the national exchequer. MOL has 9 percent share in the block while the remaining 91 percent shares are owned by the government through its oil and gas exploration and production companies.
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