Balochistan Calls For High-Level Meeting on Multi-billion Copper Project
Original article at The Baloch Hal | Oct 4, 2010 | Original story
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani, has asked President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to convene a high-level meeting to take final decisions on Reko Diq gold and copper project.
In a letter written to President and Prime Minister, the Chief Minister stated that Rekod Diq was a project of national importance, containing big range of valuable minerals including copper and gold.
The representatives of Barrack Gold and Tehteyan Copper Company were informed in a meeting that Government of Balochistan would welcome foreign investment, if the interests of the people of Balochistan protected. He said that in this regard the representatives of above companies were agreed to submit modified agreement to the provincial government, but these companies yet not presented modified agreement.
It was further stated in the letter that on the same time a Board of Governors was constituted led by prominent scientist of the country and member of Planning Commission Science and Technology, Dr. Samar Mubarak Mand to review the implementation of the project through resources of Pakistan.
Chief Minister further stated that Rekodic plan was included in Federal PDSP for 2010-11, as well as funds were also allocated in Provincial PDSP form 2010-11. Earlier, a joint venture accord was inked on July 29, 1993 between provincial government and an Australian company BHP Billiton, which was extended till 2011. On April 2006 another agreement was signed between BHP and Tehteyan Copper Company.
The Provincial Cabinet in it's a meeting held on December 24, 2009 took serious notice on the violations of the agreement by these companies working on the project and decided on principle to modify agreement. Chief Minister in his letter further stated that clauses presented by the Tehteyan Copper Company are not acceptable to Balochistan Government.
