KARACHI: Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), an attached department of Petroleum Division, has planned to purchase latest drilling rigs to help increase mineral identification and exploration activities in the potential areas of the country and achieve self-reliance in the energy sector, sources said.
The rigs would be in use of the GSP to map existing hydrocarbon resources in different potential areas of the country.
Sources said GSP would purchase Truck-mounted diamond core drilling rigs; Skid-mounted diamond core drilling rigs along with tools and accessories, adding GSP was already in the process of short-listing the suppliers.
It may be mentioned here GSP has sought Rs519.057 million to execute four projects- three in Balochistan- under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-2021.
Of these projects, three are related to the mineral sector and one is meant for the fuel sector, for which Rs512.533 million and Rs6.524 million have been demanded respectively in the next fiscal year.
GSP also sought Rs414.735 million to acquire drilling rigs along with accessories aimed at executing drilling projects in an efficient and cost effective way.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy has recently approved the budgetary proposals of the Petroleum Division for incorporating in the PSDP 2020-21.