Pakistan Looks to Import Crude Oil from Libya to Diversify Supply

Pakistan is encouraging its refiners to consider buying crude oil from Libya to diversify its oil supply amid the Middle East crisis, Pakistani Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik says. Ali Pervaiz has met with Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya, on the sidelines of an energy event in Saudi Arabia to discuss strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas sector. During the meeting, the Pakistani minister told his Libyan counterpart that the South Asian country had encouraged its refineries to explore the possibility of importing Libyan crude oil, local media reported. To boost its energy security, Pakistan also plans to upgrade refineries, build critical infrastructure, and increase domestic oil and gas exploration, both offshore and onshore, the federal minister said. A Turkish seismic vessel is expected to arrive in Pakistan next month to begin data acquisition in the Indus Basin, Ali Pervaiz said.