Chairman of Petrobangla (PB) Muktadir Ali on Thursday said there is no provision under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) to export gas through pipeline.
Addressing a media briefing here, he said after commercial discovery of gas in the offshore region, the PB would have the first right to purchase gas from the International Oil Companies (IOC's).
While presenting the overall energy situation with the government's short and long terms measures at the media briefing, he said every detail was discussed in the clauses 15.4, 15.5 and 15.6 of the PSC model, under which the IOCs would conduct exploration and development in the offshore region.
The media briefing was organised by the Petrobangla to remove a confusion created recently over the gas export issue. The PB chairman distributed PSC copies among the reporters requesting them to contribute in ensuring energy security in the country through objective news.
Prime Minister's Adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power and Energy Brig Gen (retd) Enamul Haque, Secretary of the Ministry M. Mohsin, Secretary of the Power Division Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Kayes, Additional Foreignh Secretary Commodore Khorshed Alam and also senior officials concerned were present.
Muktadir Ali said Tullow and Conoco Phillips's officials would sit with the Petrobangla in the first and second weeks respectively of this month to discuss issues on awarding 5, 10 and 11 gas blocks to them.
"If the government fails to purchase gas from the IOC's, then they will look for the third party sale in the domestic market. If that is not possible, then gas export will take place in the form of LNG," he said.
Before undertaking the LNG process, Muktadir Ali said, the IOCs would have to wait for minimum one year to sell gas in the domestic market. He said in the case of exporting gas in the LNG form, the price and other aspects of its export should have to be approved by the government.
Replying to a question, the foreign secretary said the government has started talks with neighboring Myanmar and India about the "overlapping issues." He said there are some areas in block 5, 10 and 11, which are 'overlapping" with the neighboring countries. |
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