'Encouraging day' for Pakistani gas, OMV says

Austrian energy company OMV said Monday getting a new gas facility on stream in Pakistan was a major boost for the country's energy supplies.

"This is an encouraging day for Pakistan's gas supply and will have a further positive impact on OMV production," Jaap Huijskes, a board member in charge of exploration and production for OMV, said in a statement from Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was on hand to inaugurate the Mehar gas processing facility in Sindh province. The Austrian energy company, which holds the controlling interest in the facility, said it should deliver a net 4,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2014.

OMV in December said it completed development of the Latif natural gas field in Pakistan and peak production should reach 6,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day at some point later this year.

The Pakistani government has said aging infrastructure in the country is leaving it short on energy supplies.

"I am delighted that the government of Pakistan has been implementing measures to accelerate domestic developments and by that enable additional domestic energy supply to the people and the economy of Pakistan," the OMV official said.