By an OGJ Correspondent
KARACHI, July 21 -- OAO Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistani government, agreeing to engage in exploration activities in Pakistan and also to consider developing gas storage infrastructure in northern Pakistan.
The July 17 agreement stemmed from Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's visit to Russia in January, which partially stemmed from the Pakistan Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources' efforts to promote foreign investment in oil and natural gas.
In January, Pakistan discussed the privatization of government-controlled entities in that country's oil and gas sector—including Oil & Gas Development Corp. Ltd., Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd., and Sui Southern Gas Co. Ltd. (OGJ Online, Jan. 20, 2003).
The MOU calls for Gazprom to evaluate the possibilities of enhancing oil and gas recovery from existing fields and also to provide technical and managerial training to various companies' executives in conjunction with Pakistan's Oil and Gas Training Institute.
