Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3265
2008-10-14 12:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

GOP SEEKS OIL DEFFERAL FROM IRAN BUT NO PROGRESS ON IPI

Tags:  ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY EPET PK IN IR 
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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003265 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY EPET PK IN IR
SUBJECT: GOP SEEKS OIL DEFFERAL FROM IRAN BUT NO PROGRESS ON IPI

REFS: A) Islamabad 3120 B) Islamabad 1699 C) 2007 Islamabad 4578

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003265

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY EPET PK IN IR
SUBJECT: GOP SEEKS OIL DEFFERAL FROM IRAN BUT NO PROGRESS ON IPI

REFS: A) Islamabad 3120 B) Islamabad 1699 C) 2007 Islamabad 4578


1. (SBU) Summary: Local media reported that the Government of
Pakistan (GOP) has asked Iran to supply oil on an extended deferred
payment plan and that both countries have agreed to exclude India
from the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) natural gas pipeline project.
However, GOP officials confirm that Pakistan and Iran have not made
progress on the pipeline discussions but continue to seek additional
electricity imports from Iran. End summary.

--------------
GOP SEEKS DEFERRED OIL PAYMENTS
--------------


2. (SBU) At a joint press conference October 10 with his Iranian
counterpart Manoucheher Mottaki, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, announced that Pakistan has requested an increased deferred
payment schedule on oil . The Iranian Foreign Minister promised to
take up the matter with his government. Qureshi said, "If
implemented, the facility will certainly help stabilize the economic
situation in Pakistan and improve our balance of payment position."
Under current Iranian law, crude oil can be exported on deferred
payment for a maximum of three months. The press reported that
Mottaki said the Iranian government would consider extending this
period further so that Pakistan could reap maximum benefits.


3. (SBU) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Joint Secretary
Tahmoor Azmat Osman told EconOff that out of a 200,000 barrels a day
domestic requirement, Pakistan imports a meager 10,000 barrels a day
from Iran. He added that "Iranian crude oil is not very compatible
with the requirements of domestic refineries, hence chances of
increasing imports in short term are nonexistent."

--------------
PIPELINE DISCUSSIONS STILL IN LIMBO
--------------


4. (SBU) Iran's Mottaki stated that Pakistan and Iran would go ahead
with a trans-regional project to pipe Iranian gas to South Asia
"even without India's participation." Referencing discussions
between the presidents of the two countries in New York in September
(REF A),Qureshi said the IPI gas pipeline project was of strategic
significance and reiterated that it should be executed on a
fast-track basis for the economic benefit of Pakistan and Iran.


5. (SBU) Referring to the outstanding issues relating to IPI,
Qureshi said that gas pricing issues would be settled soon. The
minister said both countries had also agreed to establish a joint
financing company to gather resources for executing the gas pipeline
project. Joint Secretary Osman told EconOff that "the decision to
exclude India from the IPI project is verbal and nothing has been
said by either side on this subject in writing."


6. (SBU) Qureshi said Pakistan has also expressed interest in buying
an additional 1000 MW electricity from Iran. (REF C) Mottaki has
reportedly given tacit approval for the transaction to further
expand economic and trade relation between the two countries.


7. (SBU) Comment: With rapidly depleting foreign exchange reserves,
Pakistan's economic and energy worries are multiplying by the day.
GOP Ministers are increasingly making optimistic public statements
to pacify the masses. While some recent steps, like phasing out
energy subsidies are indeed helpful for the economy, the benefits of
these steps are not immediately obvious to the general public who
are suffering extended periods of blackouts but asked to pay
significantly more for what little energy is provided. A public
request for deferred oil payments from Iran is new, Pakistan is
increasingly desperate and is seeking oil from all friendly oil
producing countries. While the rhetoric continues publicly on the
IPI, no progress has been made to address the myriad of outstanding
issues. End Comment.

FEIERSTEIN