China has reportedly expressed willingness to set up an oil refinery near Karachi with an investment of $5 billion, official sources told Business Recorder.

For this purpose, China has requested the Government of Pakistan (GoP) to identify 4000 acres of land as early as possible.

Refinery, the GoP has been informed, will begin operations four years after development work starts formally.

This proposal will be further developed during the second meeting of China-Pakistan Joint Energy Working Group, which will commence from Tuesday (today) at a local hotel.

On Monday Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar, and the head of Chinese delegation Wu.

Guihuj held preliminary discussions, which mainly focused on Energy Infrastructure Fund (EIF) of $10 billion, renewable energy working group, formation of sectoral group and other issues.

The main focus of energy dialogue between the two countries will be Sindh-Engro coal mining and 1200 MW coal fired power plant and Sino Sindh Resources coal mining and 900 MW coal fired power plant.

In hydropower projects the main focus will be on 969 MW Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project, 4500 MW Diamer-Bhasha hydropower project and 1100 MW Kohala hydropower project.

Transmission system projects would include: (i) 500 kV Guddu transmission line; (ii) 220 kV Uch-II transmission line; (iii) dispersal of power from Neelum-Jehlum, Kohala, Karot and Azad Pattan hydropower projects; (iv) Thar Matiari transmission line project; and (v) dispersal of power from 630 MW Chashma Nuclear C3 and C4.

In renewable energy, three projects ie United Energy Pakistan Limited, 150 MW, China Three Gorges, 50 MW and Hydropower China, 100 MW, will come under discussion.

Other projects which will come under discussion will be: 425 Nandipur thermal power project, 548 MW Kaigah hydropower project and 640 MW Azad Pattan hydropower project.

The sources further revealed that other projects could also be included in the deliberations with the consent of both sides.

According to the sources, both sides have agreed to issue a "joint statement" instead of signing ceremony.

There are reports that during the first meeting JEWG in August last year, Beijing had conveyed to Islamabad that its investment in the water and power sector will be conditional on suspension of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

It is pertinent to mention here that during the visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in December 2010, under Energy Co-operation mechanism, it had been decided that China will provide financing and co-operation for conventional, renewable and civil nuclear energy projects, to be identified by Pakistan.