The Minister for Petroleum, Dr. Musadik Malik, recently led a delegation of Pakistani energy companies to the eighth Silk Route Expo in China. The aim of the visit was to strengthen energy partnerships with Chinese counterparts and foster collaboration in the sector. During the discussion forum, Dr. Malik highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision and assured Chinese companies of full support in partnering with Pakistani firms for joint ventures.
Pakistan’s current domestic oil and gas production was reported at 70,998 barrels and 3,131 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) respectively. PM Shehbaz emphasized the exploration of new oil and gas reserves as a top priority, with plans to invest $5bn in excavating 240 potential reserve sites within the next three years.
The meeting discussed key areas of partnership including oil and gas exploration, refinery upgrades, coal conversion, and regasification. Dr. Malik highlighted the country’s focus on producing fertilizers using coal-based energy and exploring options like green and blue hydrogen production. Pakistani and Chinese companies engaged in business-to-business meetings to exchange opportunities and plans for collaboration.