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An "umbrella" energy pact and opening of the Gwadar sea port in Balochistan are on top of the agenda as the Pakistan government prepares for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit in November. The term "umbrella" is not elaborated, but media reports quoting unnamed official sources indicate that it would cover both the oil/gas and nuclear energy sectors. Pakistan has made no secret of its anxiety to get a nuclear energy deal that would include the supply of nuclear power plants by Beijing, ahead of the India-US deal currently undergoing the legislative processes in Washington. The Nation newspaper reported that China would also invest $200 million in a cement factory with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes a day at Chakwal in Punjab. A delegation from Xinjiang is visiting to discuss the augmentation of Pakistan's oil refining capacity. Federal Minister Amanaullah Jadoon said: "Pakistan-China cooperation in the oil and gas sector is rapidly growing for mutual advantage." The formal opening of the Gwadar port that China designed, financed and built at a heavy cost was delayed because of the killing of two Chinese engineers about two years ago. The killing was carried out allegedly by militants in Balochistan, which has been in turmoil since the killing on Aug 26 of top separatist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. Senior level official sources requesting anonymity told The Nation that Pakistan and China were currently exchanging technical delegations, estimating pre-feasibilities of various energy projects ranging from nuclear power reactors to transnational oil and gas pipelines. "In addition to the proposal of Saudi-Pak-China oil pipeline, and its possible co-tracking with Pak-Qatar Gas Pipeline, the Chinese are also keen to participate in other transnational energy transportation projects, namely the TAP (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan) and IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gas pipelines," the sources added.
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