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Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL) has firmly denied international media reports suggesting that the company is reclaiming land from the sea to construct an artificial island for oil and gas exploration near Sujawal, Sindh. The clarification comes after a Bloomberg report quoted PPL’s GM Exploration, Arshad Palekar, creating widespread speculation about the project’s nature.
In its statement, the state owned company said the project is not an offshore island but a technical setup designed
“only to support safe drilling in a difficult and marshy terrain.”
The area part of the Sirani Block has long remained unexplored due to its harsh environmental conditions. PPL explained that work currently underway includes building elevated access roads, loading/offloading jetties, and a well pad raised about nine feet to withstand tides. These facilities are essential for transporting heavy drilling equipment through a natural 17 kilometer water channel.
The project site lies roughly 30 kilometers from the mainland, which may have led to confusion about its offshore nature. PPL also confirmed that drilling is expected to begin in March 2026, following the successful completion of both 2D and 3D seismic surveys using specialized transition zone technology.
This clarification comes at a time when Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration activity is gaining momentum. Interest surged after a viral post by former US President Donald Trump earlier this year claimed Pakistan holds “massive oil reserves,” prompting the government to issue new licenses to PPL, Mari Energies Ltd, and Prime International Oil and Gas Company.
