Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and China’s Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company (CCDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the ongoing 8th Silk Road International Expo in Xian, the provincial capital of Shaanxi province of China, to work together on developing Pakistan’s shale and tight gas resources.
The collaboration aims to tap into the country’s indigenous resources to meet growing energy demands and reduce dependency on external sources, OGDCL said in a statement. The development of shale and tight gas fields is seen as a critical step toward addressing Pakistan’s long-term energy security.
Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company (CCDC) is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Asia’s largest oil and gas producer.
Mumtaz Ali Soomro, Executive Director (Production) at OGDCL, and Zhang Zhidong, Vice President of CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Ltd., signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
Federal Minister of Energy (Petroleum Division) Musadik Malik and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present at the ceremony.
Speaking at the occasion, the Federal Minister expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for hosting Pakistan as the “Country of Honor” at the expo. He emphasized that this collaboration between OGDCL and CCDC would unlock a new chapter in Pakistan’s untapped energy potential, particularly in shale and tight gas exploration.
The minister also expressed hope that the cooperation between Pakistan and China in the energy sector would continue to strengthen, leading to mutual benefits in other areas of the energy industry. This partnership, he noted, symbolizes the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two brotherly nations.
Silk Road International Expo
The Silk Road International Expo is seen as a key platform for strengthening energy sector cooperation between Pakistan and China. Delegates from both countries engage in meaningful discussions aimed at boosting industrial collaboration and advancing practical cooperation in various energy-related fields.
This year’s expo, themed “Deepening Connectivity and Expanding Economic and Trade Cooperation,” highlighted Pakistan as the guest country of honor. The Pakistani pavilion, covering an expansive 500 square meters, showcased prominent companies from the petroleum, energy, and minerals sectors. The pavilion offered numerous opportunities for business-to-business (B2B) interactions, fostering greater connections between companies and promoting deeper bilateral ties in these critical industries.