Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The expert group of SAARC has agreed to strengthen energy cooperation among the member countries to meet the mounting domestic demand of natural gas and oil.
It also finalized a draft terms or reference (TOR) to conduct studies on the prospects of importing natural gas from outside the region, installation of oil refineries jointly and setting up of regional LNG terminals, Energy Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin told reports after the groups meeting.
The SAARC expert group finalized the draft TOR following a two-day meeting in Dhaka, according to reports
In the first meeting of SAARC expert group on oil and gas, the delegation of participating countries have agreed to look into the natural gas importing options from Turkmenistan, Iran and Myanmar and connect the proposed SAARC Gas Grid with these three gas-surplus countries.
Among the SAARC member countries Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have already signed a couple of deals with energy-rich Turkmenistan aiming to import natural gas by 2016-17 through Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, SAARC Energy Centre Director Hilal A Raza said.
India and Pakistan are expected to import around 1.35 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of gas and Afghanistan at 0.5 Bcf per day from Turkmenistan's Southern Yoloten-Osman gas field, he said.
Besides, Pakistan has inked deal with Iran to import natural gas by December 31, 2014, he said.
Iran has already completed construction of 900-km pipeline to facilitate exporting of natural gas to Pakistan, Raza said.
Bangladesh has, however, shown interest to import natural gas from Myanmar.
Earlier in January 2009, the SAARC energy ministers approved a concept note on Energy Ring in SAARC countries.
Currently only India, Bhutan, and Nepal trade electricity.
There are no gas pipelines crossing the national borders, whether within South Asia or between south Asia and its neighbours.
Representatives of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal took part in the meeting.
BBN/SSR/AD-27July11-10:41 am (BST)