Still a Pipedream : A Pakistan-to-China rail corridor is not a substitute for maritim

[Awesome]

Isn't most of the development work happening in East China? I though west China/Tibet was mostly desert. In that case the distance required to travel would increase drastically.

Even Western China's demands are big and still there is a huge difference in speeds from land vs maritime.

More or less this rail is for Cargo. We're not going to haul oil through rails. Once the rails are completed we can progress onto pipelines.

 

[StingRoy]

yes and that could be if you stop arming BLA terrorists!

Common... if India were helping the BLA, why would they have reservations on the security aspect in the original Iran gas pipeline project?
Either way, security for the pipeline would also escalate the cost factor in this project.

 

[arihant]

^^ Pipeline built by Pakistanis and Chinese shall be even more cheaper.
Real, challenge would be the altitude... but not impossible do design.

As far as I believe, if ask Chinese, nothing is impossible. Not even it is possible, but they could do well before time.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Even Western China's demands are big and still there is a huge difference in speeds from land vs maritime.

More or less this rail is for Cargo. We're not going to haul oil through rails. Once the rails are completed we can progress onto pipelines.

That is right.

There is a huge amount of development work going on in western and central China.

Pipelines will be vital in terms of the oil supply as well.

 

[StingRoy]

Isn't most of the development work happening in East China? I though west China/Tibet was mostly desert. In that case the distance required to travel would increase drastically.

There is still a considerable potential demand for local consumption in the western sector since now China is shifting its focus on improving the infrastructure in this region. To top it, most of the mineral resources are present in the Tibet/West China region where there is a lot of potential for growth.

 

[Awesome]

I think the wording is wrong. To say he has no links is wrong when he has admitted he was inspired by Dawat-e-Islami sermons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/world/asia/11qadri.html

Mr. Qadri also repeated his admission that he had killed Mr. Taseer over his support for changes to the country’s strict blasphemy law, according to Mr. Joya, a superintendent of the Islamabad police. Mr. Qadri expanded on his motivation, Mr. Joya said, saying that he was inspired by “the speeches and sermons of Dawat-e-Islami,” referring to a religious group based in the southern port city of Karachi that is active throughout the country. At a huge rally in Karachi on Sunday, Mr. Qadri was hailed as a hero by religious parties.

Mr. Joya said the police were now looking for two clerics, Qari Hanif and Ishtiaq Shah, who run a religious school in Rawalpindi and are believed to have instigated Mr. Qadri.

Dawat-e-Islami claims to be active in 66 countries and to organize the world’s largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj in the southern Punjab city of Multan. The group, which calls itself nonpolitical, owns a 24-hour television channel, organizes weekly meetings and has a dress code for its adherents: a green turban and white clothes.

 

[anoop]

can some one tell me is there any project of oil/natural gas connecting middle east oil to china through pakistan. i mean to say is there any project that would bring connect oil/natural gas producing gulf states directly to china through pakistan

 

[Veeru]

Speed is also something... At war time, China will require quick and secure supply of oil and Pakistan can deliver in that regard.

I think the values presented here are inflated, cost of transportation can reduce drastically if its done through electric renewable means.

Really????????

a.) If in war times china can't safeguard its supplies from sea then how can pakistan ensure safe supply in war times, is pakistan more powerfull then cjhina???

That too supplying through and from one of the most volatile regions of the world.

b.) At the time of war a single missile can destroy/disrupt pipeline/railway line.

c.) The value is not inflated but somewhat real. Also sea route is cheapest of all that's no two opinion about it.

 

[maverick1977]

Lets take oil transportation out for a minute. Lets talk about benefits of trade between china and Pakistan. it will be a tremendous boost to region and trade between two countries. Since china established economic free zone on border of Pakistan, it will make Pakistani goods more viable in chinese markets and some chinese goods in pakistan. Transportation of Pakistani goods like fruits from north to main pakistna cannot be achieved due to lack of transportation facilities. with this rail track, it will be much more feasible to transport goods. Some new mining projects can be explored as well. Tourism is one major source of income for both countries if this rail line opens up.

Now going back to stretegic use of this pipeline. Ofcourse, transportation of military goods to pakistan via raillink can bring bulk of equipmemt ot pakistan in no time. Incase of war, If Pakistna lets suppose need urgent need of artillery pieces, then can be send to pakistan in lesss than 24 hour notice. same case with associated ammunition.

Oil, if lets suppose price of oil is 92$ per barrel then adding 2 to 3 $ to tranport it via sea comes out to 95$ per barrel for china. and via paksitan gwadar it comes out to 95+12= $107$ per barrel. In grand scheme of things this price difference in not huge when it comes to haiving an alternate route of fast shipment of oil. We all know that time is money and if china gets this oil in 3 days instead of 21 days, then i will say its money save save save.

Incase of war, china is protected against any sea based oil emabargo, again life line to china will not be distruptive, all they hav eto do is make sure that oil gets off at gwadar from tankers and then pakistan can help ensure skiues are clear over pakistan till it reaches china. Hence, strain on their Navy will not be huge and they can concentrate their resources on fighting their enemies than providing escorts to their oil tankers, which can be a nightmare with so many countries and bottleneck at strait of malaca.

Thirdly, if you look at Lhasa train link it is currently set as 2 track train and china is soon to work on making it a 6 track rail link. The cost of tranporting oil can go down with more carriages and multiple tracks along with engineering design such that the transportation cost can stay to the minimum.

In short, i see a lot more benefit from this project than losses. Investment will pay off in notime to a lot of other factors as dicussed above.

I as a tourist cant wait to take this train from Islamabad to Kashgar.

 

[ajay]

pipelines are easy to blowup given the vast amount of land they have to cover

 

[oct605032048]

pipeline dose not carry tanks that is why a rail is needed.

 

[ares]

Any pipeline/rail line passing through a Karakoram is in Indian artillery range can be directed from Siachen..In case of conflict with India pipeline/rail network hardly safer than sea route.

 

[UnitedPak]

Any pipeline/rail line passing through a Karakoram is in Indian artillery range can be directed from Siachen..In case of conflict with India pipeline/rail network hardly safer than sea route.

Why are you recommending a two front war?

 

[maverick1977]

@ares, true there will be many points where this track can come again indian artillary attack then again, u dont have to go for a war, u can send "ghus bathiay" into pakistan to sabotage this line....

 

[somebozo]

Any pipeline/rail line passing through a Karakoram is in Indian artillery range can be directed from Siachen..In case of conflict with India pipeline/rail network hardly safer than sea route.

Not when there is much more potent chinese artillery waiting to respond.

Why are you recommending a two front war?

No him but the idea was first opened by Gen Kapoor!