China Focuses on Iran after CPEC Setbacks in Pakistan

At the end of August, Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIN) Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif visited Beijing for what appeared to be a routine visit. However, soon after the visit, it was reported in the media that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had agreed to invest a vast sum of $400 billion in Iran. This would be the biggest investment that China has pledged to any one country as a part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to the details of the agreement, China has pledged to invest…

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The Billion-Dollar Broker Who Managed a Nation’s Oil Wealth

The wire transfer was just one of millions that ricochet through the global financial system every day. Starting at the Zurich branch of a Russian state bank, $800 million zipped through Citigroup Inc. in New York before landing in a small bank in Lebanon. The payment came from Russian oil giant Rosneft PJSC –- a loan to the cash-strapped government of the breakaway region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq that would be repaid with barrels of crude. It was the opening tranche of a $6 billion torrent of cash that made a…

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MOL Discovers Significant Reserves in Pakistan

MOL revealed Tuesday that it has discovered “significant” gas and condensate reserves in Pakistan. The Mamikhel South-1 exploratory well, which is located in Pakistan’s TAL Block, achieved a flow rate of 6,516 barrels of oil equivalent per day during testing, according to the company, which noted that further testing of the well is currently ongoing. Mamikhel South-1 marks MOL’s 13th discovery in Pakistan and the 10th discovery in the TAL Block. MOL’s 13 oil, gas and condensate finds have all been made since the year 2000. “I am delighted to announce that we have…

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K-Electric busts city’s power supply myths

KARACHI: K-Electric hosted a press conference at its Office to allay the concerns of Karachi consumers around the power supply situation and address misinformation around various power-related issues. The conference which, was hosted by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) K-Electric, Moonis Alvi, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Aamir Ghaziani and Chief Distribution Officer (CDO) Amer Zia, focused on transparently addressing the prevailing myths around the power utility. CEO K-Electric, Moonis Alvi focused on K-Electric’s ambitious investment plan which would see USD 2 bn spent across the power value chain over the next three…

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EFP chief appeals to Prime Minister to cut gas price for industries

KARACHI: Ismail Suttar, President of Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP), the Apex Body of Manufacturers of Pakistan, has appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to further reduce the gas prices as the industry was expecting a huge cut in gas prices as is the case worldwide. Speaking on behalf of local manufacturers, Ismail requested that the gas prices should be the same for exporters as well as local industry. He reiterated the importance of import-substitution in the current COVID situation and said that this cannot happen if cost of production for…

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