Category: Energy

You can go through stories related to energy. The stories are about changes in petroleum prices and updates on energy sector of Pakistan and world.

  • Kamran Kamal appointed HUBCO chief

    Kamran Kamal appointed HUBCO chief

    KARACHI: Hubco, Pakistan’s largest IPP has announced the appointment of Kamran Kamal as its new CEO. Kamran has succeeded Khalid Mansoor who led the company for eight years, a statement said on Wednesday.

    Kamran has already been a part of Hubco for the past 6 years as the CEO of Laraib Energy Limited, a hydel subsidiary of the Company. Previously, he held the position of Vice President China Power Hub Generation Company (CPHGC), a joint venture between HUBCO & China Power International Holding (CPIH). Kamran’s appointment as the new CEO (from within the Company) is a testament of confidence of Hubco’s shareholders in its home-grown talent. 

    “Pakistan’s energy landscape is full of possibilities. HUBCO’s unparalleled technical expertise, pioneering approach to business and strategic geographical presence provides us with a unique set of capabilities to realize these possibilities for our country said Kamran Kamal. I am excited to lead HUBCO in transforming our approach to creating long-term shared value without ever losing sight of the future of our society, Kamran added. 

    Kamran is a competent leader with over 18 years of progressive responsibility and leadership experience in energy, infrastructure, commodities, business development and strategy. He has been responsible for large capital projects, building organizational capabilities and for overall business delivery in both management, executive and Board roles. Kamran holds a Masters from Harvard and a BSE in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech, USA.

    Previously, Kamran was Commodities Trade Head, Engro EXIMP FZE where he managed Fertiliser, Coal, Oilseeds and Sugar Trading Portfolio. He led the company’s growth into new geographies and commodities portfolio. During his tenure at Engro, Kamran was also involved in major energy & infrastructure projects including Thar Coal Mining & Power Plant, LNG Floating terminal and RLNG based power plant.

    Under Kamran’s leadership HUBCO will focus on retaining its position as a market leader by focusing on renewables, merchant market model for the Power Sector and diversification into sustainable solutions. Kamran’s understanding of the Power Sector, regulatory environment and his experience of closely working with key external stakeholders will strengthen Hubco’s standing in the power sector.

  • NCCPL excludes Hascol Petroleum from list of eligible securities

    NCCPL excludes Hascol Petroleum from list of eligible securities

    KARACHI: National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) on Monday excluded M/s. Hascol Petroleum from the list of eligible securities after the stock exchange placed the oil company into defaulter segment.

    The NCCPL said that this is with reference to Pakistan Stock Exchange Notice No. PSX/N-781 dated: June 25, 2021, regarding placement of M/s. Hascol Petroleum Limited (“HASCOL”) in the Defaulter’s segment with effective from Monday, June 28, 2021.

    This event leads to action under Clauses 7A.3.5 and 7B.3.1.4 of NCCPL Regulations, 2015 that has been reproduced below for ready reference;

    “Where a Security that has been quoted on the defaulter’s segment of the Exchange and notified to the Company, such Security shall not be eligible for trading in the SLB Market from the date it has been placed on the defaulter segment. However, all open SLB Contracts shall be released on Accelerated Maturity Date and/or Maturity Date as the case may be.”

    “In case where such Security is reinstated during the review period, trading in SLB Market shall not be allowed during that review period.” (Regulations 7A.3.5)

    “Where a Security that have been quoted on the Defaulter segment of the Exchange and notified to the Company, such Security shall not be made available on MF Market from the date it has been placed on the defaulter segment. However, all MF (R) Transactions shall be released as per the terms and conditions defined in the Margin Financing Agreement between MF Participants.”

    “In case where such Security is reinstated during the review period, trading in MF Market shall not be allowed during that review period.” (Regulations 7B.3.1.4)

    Where a MT Eligible Security that have been quoted on the defaulter segment of the Exchange and notified to the Company, such Security shall not be eligible for trading in the MT Market from the date it has been placed on the Defaulter segment. However, all open MT Contracts shall be released on Accelerated Maturity Date and/or Maturity Date as the case may be.

    In case where such Security is reinstated during the review period, trading in MT Market shall not be allowed during that review period. (Regulations 7C.3.2 (15)

    Accordingly, in pursuance of provisions stipulated in the above referred clauses of NCCPL Regulations, 2015, M/s. Hascol Petroleum Limited shall be excluded from the list of SLB Eligible Securities, MF Eligible Securities and MTS eligible Securities with effect from Monday, June 28, 2021.

  • FBR announces reduction in sales tax rates on petroleum products

    FBR announces reduction in sales tax rates on petroleum products

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced reduction in sales tax rates on supply of petroleum products in order to ensure availability of fuel at lower rates.

    The FBR issued SRO 807(I)/2021 dated June 26, 2021 for notifying the reduction in sales tax on petroleum products.

    According to the SRO the sales tax rate on kerosene oil has been reduced to 6.7 per cent from 9.15 per cent. Similarly, sales tax on light diesel oil has been reduced to 0.2 percent from 2.74 per cent.

    However, the sales tax rates on petrol and high diesel oil has been kept unchanged at 17 per cent.

    The government on June 15, 2021 announced increase in prices of petroleum products for next fortnight, which are as follows: MS (Petrol) has been increased by Rs2.13 from Rs108.56 to Rs110.69 per liter, High Speed Diesel was increased by Rs1.79 from Rs110.76 to Rs112.55 per liter, Kerosene (SKO) was increased by Rs1.89 from Rs80.00 to Rs81.89 per liter and Light Diesel Oil was increased by Rs2.03 from Rs77.65 to Rs79.68 per liter.

    FBR sources said that the sales tax rate has been reduced because the government had not passed on the actual increase in petroleum products prices to the general public.

  • Mari Petroleum board decides consortium to set up NewCo in Abu Dhabi

    Mari Petroleum board decides consortium to set up NewCo in Abu Dhabi

    KARACHI: The board of directors of Mari Petroleum Company (MPCL) on Thursday decided that a consortium of public limited energy giants shall incorporate a company namely NewCo in Abu Dhabi Global Market or Pakistan.

    The company in a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) said that the Board of Directors of MPCL, in its meeting held today i.e. June 24, 2021 has decided that subject to shareholders’ approval, a consortium comprising Mari Petroleum Company Limited (“MPCL”), Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, and Government Holding (Private) Limited (collectively referred to as the “Consortium”), shall incorporate a company/special purpose vehicle (a “NewCo”), in Abu Dhabi Global Market or Pakistan, with each Consortium partner having 25% shareholding in the NewCo.

    The Consortium has submitted a bid for one of the blocks offered in the Abu Dhabi Bid Round 2019 and incorporation of the NewCo is one of the conditions precedent to qualify for the award: It is hereby clarified that the award shall be granted by the Supreme Council for Finance and Economic Affairs (SCFEA) of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and that no decision in this regard has so far been made. In case the block is not awarded to the Consortium, the NewCo shall be dissolved.

    Further, subject to the approval of respective shareholders and the Consortium being declared a successful bidder by SCFEA, the incorporation of the NewCo and execution of all definitive agreements, an amount of up to USD 100 million will be invested by MPCL over a period of five years (total investment by all Consortium partners: Up to USD 400 million). Any subsequent funding, if required, will be subject to seeking shareholders’ and relevant approvals.

    In addition, subject to approval of their respective shareholders, MPCL (and other members of the Consortium) are required to provide a parent company guarantee for all obligations of the NewCo under the definitive agreements to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and SCFEA.

  • Petroleum prices increased for next fortnight

    Petroleum prices increased for next fortnight

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday announced increase in prices of petroleum products for next fortnight effective June 16, 2021.

    According to a notification issued by the finance division, the new prices of the petroleum products coming into effect from June 16, 2021, for the next fortnight, are as follow:

    The price of petrol has been increased by Rs2.13 to Rs110.69 per liter from Rs108.56 per liter.

    The price of high speed diesel oil (HSD) has been increased by Rs1.79 to Rs112.55 per liter from Rs110.76 per liter.

    The rate of kerosene oil has been increased by Rs1.89 per liter to Rs81.89 per liter from Rs80 per liter.

    Similarly, the rate of light diesel oil has been increased by Rs2.03 to Rs79.68 per liter from Rs77.65 per liter.

  • Sales tax rates slashed on kerosene, light diesel

    Sales tax rates slashed on kerosene, light diesel

    ISLAMABAD: The government has announced cut in sales tax rates on kerosene oil and light diesel in order to absorb the price hike on petroleum products.

    In this regard the FBR issued SRO 726(I)/2021 on Tuesday to comply with the decision of the government for keeping the POL prices intact by absorbing a hike in prices through downward adjustment in sales tax rates.

    The sales tax rate on kerosene oil has been reduced to 10.07 percent from the previous rate of 15.44 percent. Similarly, the sales tax rate on light diesel oil has been reduced to 3.67 percent from 7.56 percent. Meanwhile, the sales tax rates on petrol and high speed oil have been kept unchanged at 17 percent.

    According to an official statement issued on May 31, 2021, the prime minister had decided to maintain the prices of petroleum products as they were on May 17, 2021.

    “The government has not increased the prices of petroleum products since April 16, 2021 by adjusting sales tax and petroleum levy so that there is no corresponding increase in the prices of essential items and maximum relief is provided to the common man.”

  • KE privatization was policy mistake

    KE privatization was policy mistake

    KARACHI: Privatizing an integrating and monopoly provider of an essential service (i.e. electricity) to over 20 million people was a policy mistake, said a letter written by an advisor to the Prime Minister on Power and Petroleum.

    Tabish Gauhar, Special Advisor to the PM on Power and Petroleum, in his response to a letter written by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) stated that unbundle K- Electric (formerly Karachi Electric Supply Company) into separate generation, transmission and (more than one) distribution companies as opposed to handing over its management to yet another single buyer of an integrated utility company i.e. an unbundled KE should be managed by different set of private entities going forward to avoid monopoly control and single point of management failure or success.

    “In hindsight, privatizing an integrated and monopoly provider of an essential service (i.e. electricity) to over 20 million people was a policy mistake,” Tabish Gauher said.

    In response to FPCCI President, it is further stated that prior to unbundling, reduce the overall cost of electricity for KE (and, therefore, the implied subsidy burden on the government) by integrating its own generation units and its Independent Power Producers (IPPs) into the national network on the basis of economic order dispatch.

    “This will also help absorb the excess and relatively cheaper power available in the national grid/pool for the benefit of the entire power sector (lower circular debt), consumers of Pakistan (lower tariff) and reduce the need for KE to set up additional, more expensive, power plants and its own and create space on its balance sheet to finance the augmentation of the Transmission and Distribution network,” it said.

    “… our government has already started doing that by increasing power supply to Karachi from the national grid from 650MW to up to 2000 MW, subject to signing a commercial-based power purchase agreement that is still pending,” it added.

    The letter sent to FPCCI president further noted that the ministry supported the recommendations presented by various industrial associations to provide choice of retail supply to all the KE’s end-consumers once its exclusivity / monopoly expires in 2023, as in other DISCOs, in line with government’s power liberalization policy.

  • Ayub assumes charge of MD NTDC

    Ayub assumes charge of MD NTDC

    LAHORE: Engr. Muhammad Ayub has officially assumed the charge of Managing Director of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), a statement said on Thursday.

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  • Petroleum prices kept unchanged for next fortnight

    Petroleum prices kept unchanged for next fortnight

    The government of Pakistan has decided to keep the prices of petroleum products unchanged during the next fortnight. The decision, made on Monday, entails absorbing a tax loss of approximately Rs2.77 billion.

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  • OGDCL discovers gas reserves in Balochistan

    OGDCL discovers gas reserves in Balochistan

    KARACHI: Oil and Gas Development Authority (OGDCL) on Monday announced gas discovery at Jandran X-04 located in District Barkhan, Balochistan Province.

    The company said that the structure of Jandran X-04 was delineated, drilled and tested using OGDCL’s in house expertise.

    “The well was drilled down to the depth of 1200m into Parh Limestone. Based on Wireline logs data, successfully DST was carried out in Mughal Kot Formation wherein the Well tested 7.08 Million Standard Cubic Feet Per Day (MMSCFD) gas and 0.55 Barrels Per Day (BPD) condensate with Well Head Flowing Pressure (WHFP) of 1300 Pounds Per Square Inch (Psi) at 32/64” Choke size.”

    The OGDCL said that the discovery of Jandran X-04 is the result of aggressive exploration strategy adopted by the company. “It has opened a new avenue and would add to the hydrocarbon reserves of OGDCL and the country.”