The proposal, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and securing long-term energy supplies for Pakistan, highlights Moscow’s growing interest in expanding its presence in Africa’s resource-rich energy sector.
Pakistan, which previously attempted oil and gas exploration in Iraq through Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) with little success, is now shifting strategy.
According to The Express Tribune, Islamabad is looking to invest in oil and gas fields already under development to reduce risk and enhance returns.
During an ongoing visit to Moscow, a Pakistani delegation led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik conveyed Pakistan’s interest in acquiring stakes in such projects, particularly those in Nigeria involving Russian firms.
Russian energy giant Gazprom, led by Sergey Tumanov, General Director of Gazprom International, is spearheading the initiative and has invited Pakistan’s largest oil and gas explorer, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), to join overseas ventures.
Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Director and CEO of OGDCL, also participated in the meeting, highlighting the seriousness of Pakistan’s bid.
For Islamabad, the potential deal represents an opportunity to ease pressure on its foreign exchange reserves while diversifying its energy sources in a volatile global market.
Gazprom’s footprint in Nigeria’s oil industry
Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy giant, has steadily expanded its presence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector through strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and bilateral agreements. Traditionally focused on natural gas exports to Europe and Asia, Gazprom is increasingly turning to Africa as part of Moscow’s broader strategy to diversify its global energy reach.
In countries like Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria, Gazprom has engaged in exploration, infrastructure development, and production-sharing arrangements.
Nigeria, in particular, has become a focal point of the company’s African ambitions, following a $2.5 billion deal signed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over a decade ago.
Its latest move, inviting Pakistan to co-invest in Nigerian oil and gas fields signals a multi-layered strategy that ties together diplomatic, commercial, and logistical interests. If finalized, the partnership would represent a significant geopolitical and economic alignment, linking Russian assets, Pakistani capital, and Nigerian resources in a tri-continental energy alliance.
The proposal also highlights Russia’s deepening strategic outreach in Africa, especially in Nigeria, which holds the continent’s largest proven gas reserves and plays a major role in global crude exports.
While no binding agreements have been signed yet, the initiative points to an evolving axis of energy cooperation that could reshape energy diplomacy across Eurasia and Africa.
