Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) on Thursday issued a clarification stating that it is not reclaiming land from the sea to build an artificial island near Sujawal, as reported by Bloomberg. Instead, the state-owned company said it is developing essential infrastructure to enable safe drilling operations in an exceptionally challenging marshy terrain.
In its statement, PPL termed the earlier media coverage “misleading,” explaining that the project’s technical scope had been misinterpreted. “The activities underway relate to enabling safe drilling operations in a challenging marshy environment, rather than the development of a standalone offshore island,” it said.
The initiative is located in the southern marshy zone of the Sirani Block—an area long considered inaccessible for exploration due to tidal impacts and unstable subsoil. PPL noted that it has already completed 2D and 3D seismic surveys using specialised transition-zone equipment.
Construction is currently underway on loading and offloading jetties, along with an access road connecting the jetty to the well site. Given the region’s swampy conditions and tidal fluctuations, both the road and the well pad are being elevated by around nine feet to ensure continuity of operations. The well site lies about 30 kilometres from the mainland, with a natural 17km water channel planned for barging rig equipment and materials.
Initial drilling is scheduled for March 2026.
Pakistan’s exploration drive has accelerated in recent months following U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about the country’s “massive oil reserves.” In response, authorities have awarded fresh offshore exploration licences to PPL, Mari Energies Ltd, and Prime International Oil and Gas Company.
