KP complains federal govt's reluctance to sanction energy project deal with Russia

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday complained that the PML-N led federal government has been creating unnecessary hurdles in the oil refinery project deal between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government and a Russian oil and gas consortium.

Addressing a press conference alongside PTI chairman Imran Khan here, Khattak said the centre has been denying no-objection certificate to the province for several energy projects.

“We have signed a deal with the Russian group of investors but the centre has been showing reluctance to sanction the pact,” he said.

Russian consortium representing Inter Rao Engineering and Himmash Apparat, has joined hands with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) as they plan to set up a medium-sized refinery in Kohat district.

Throwing light on the energy pact, Khattak said the province would get 10 percent share in the revenue profit without making an investment.

Calling it an unprecedented move, Khattak said the KP government has made an exception by signing this deal, as what he claimed, the province would get its share in profit rather receiving commission.

He said the federal government wanted to promote use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the province, adding, the province has previously struck deals with FWO and other Chinese companies.

On the occasion, PTI chairman Imran Khan said the federal government shying away from purchasing cheap electricity from the province, relying on coal and gas power generators instead. “No country in the world relies on coal power generators,” he noted.

Referring to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s question, Khan said the province is all set to add 74 MW of power to the national grid and not relying on the federal government.

He said the smog and pollution in Punjab is outcome of excessive use of coal.