PSO, FWO sign deal for 427-km white oil pipeline project

KARACHI: The state-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO), a gas firm and a military engineering group signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to build a pipeline that will transport petroleum products from Karachi to Peshawar, a statement said.

The Machike-Thallian-Taru Jabba White Oil Pipeline (MTT-WOP) project, which will span 427 km (265 miles), is expected to improve the efficiency and safety of oil transportation in the country, as well as reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

The project will be led by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), a military engineering group, and supported by PSO and Inter State Gas Systems Pvt. Ltd (ISGS).

The signing ceremony took place at the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Secretari atthe prime minister's office, where the minister for power and petroleum, Muhammad Ali, and other senior officials were present.

The pipeline will have three segments: Machike-Chakpirana, Chakpirana-Rawat and Rawat-Tarujabba. six million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of petroleum products, facilitating a smoother supply chain from Karachi to Peshawar.

The pipeline will connect Punjab from Machike, near Lahore, to Tarujabba, near Peshawar, through three segments: Machike-Chakpirana, Chakpirana to Rawat, and Rawat to Tarujabba. With Punjab and KPK jointly demanding 74 percent of the nation's oil, timely pipeline development is crucial.

The project aims to complement the existing oil pipeline backbone from Karachi to Peshawar, ensuring efficient transportation of petroleum products, preventing adulteration, and enhancing safety measures. Additionally, it is anticipated to significantly reduce traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and transportation costs.