Pakistan diversifying energy mix to overcome challenges: PM Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that Pakistan is on the course to diversifying its energy mix to overcome energy challenges.

Addressing the Annual Technical Conference on Oil and Gas, the prime minister said that Pakistan recorded a growth rate of 5.3 percent last year, and this has increased energy needs of the country for which the government is trying to overcome the challenges.

PM Abbasi said the government has added domestic coal from Thar, gas and renewable energy to the energy mix, and now Pakistan is looking at double digit growth in  petrol and diesel consumption.

He further said that Pakistan is importing LNG, which will rise to nine million tons per year by December this year, and is likely to surge to 20 million tons annually within next three years.

PM Abbasi added that Pakistan is a growing energy market and exploration and production companies can take advantage of this opportunity, while the improved security situation can will help contribution in the sector.