Associated Group Chairman Iqbal Z. Ahmed has acknowledged the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)’s role in reviving the Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) gas processing plant, valued at more than $250 million.
“SIFC helped us revive this project, which had remained closed for five years,” he told the Business Recorder. “Without the council’s support and guidance, it would not have been possible to restore a project of such national importance,” he said.
Ahmed noted that the revival of JJVL would generate annual foreign exchange savings of nearly $200 million by reducing dependence on imported LPG and enhancing domestic production capacity. He also noted that the project’s restoration has created employment opportunities for around 5,000 people, both directly and indirectly, while stimulating economic and industrial activity in the region.
The Jamshoro gas plant, a strategic energy project, was idle for five years before its revival with the support of the SIFC. The Business Recorder has noted the plant’s revival is one of the key achievements of SIFC’s efforts to facilitate investment and restore stalled projects of national importance.
The plant is Pakistan’s first gas processing facility equipped with advanced Ortloff technology for the extraction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Its prolonged closure deprived the country of approximately 317,000 tonnes of locally produced LPG, resulting in estimated economic losses of Rs. 94 billion. The shutdown also increased reliance on imported energy products, putting additional pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
In a bid to address the issue, the SIFC initiated coordinated efforts in 2024 to resolve longstanding challenges surrounding the project and facilitate its revival through engagement with relevant stakeholders. These efforts saw the project’s successful restoration and reintegration into Pakistan’s energy supply chain, supporting the government’s broader objective of maximizing the utilization of indigenous energy resources and reducing the import bill.
Officials said the revival demonstrates the effectiveness of SIFC’s facilitation model in addressing bottlenecks, restoring investor confidence and accelerating the implementation of strategically important projects. They have maintained the resumption of operations would also contribute to greater energy self-reliance, support industrial growth and strengthen Pakistan’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic development through the revival of key national assets.