Italy's Eni SpA (E) said Tuesday it has started production from its Badhra gas field, located in the Sindh province of Pakistan, approximately 250 kilometers northeast of Karachi.
In a statement, Eni said it has also completed the commissioning of the third train at Bhit gas treatment plant, which will process gas from the nearby Badhra gas field, following the Badhra Development and Bhit Acceleration Project.
The Badhra Development and Bhit Acceleration Project will increase the existing Bhit plant capacity by 17%, from 270 million metric standard cubic feet per day, or MMscfd, to 315 MMscfd, Eni said. The project "enhances gas sales to the gas utility companies to help fulfill the ever increasing demand of energy in Pakistan," said the company.
Total investment in the Badhra Development and Bhit Acceleration Project will be approximately $50 million.
The title holder of the Bhit and Badhra gas fields is a joint venture in which an Eni subsidiary holds a 40% stake, a Royal Dutch Shell Group PLC (RDSB.LN) company owns 28% and Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. has 20%. Subsidiaries of Premier Oil PLC (PMO.LN) and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. each own a 6% stake in the venture.
Eni has been present in Pakistan since 2000 with 12 onshore exploration licenses and is the largest foreign gas producer in the country.
The Rome-based company said it is the biggest foreign gas producer in Pakistan.