Pakistan secures second Qatari LNG cargo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured another LNG shipment from Qatar following diplomatic engagement involving Iranian officials, with the cargo already crossing the Strait of Hormuz, officials said on Tuesday.

The shipment is expected to reach Port Qasim within the next few days. It is the second Qatari LNG cargo secured by Pakistan this month and is expected to provide temporary relief to the power sector amid ongoing gas supply constraints.

A Petroleum Division official confirmed that the latest cargo had successfully passed through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan received its first Qatari LNG shipment of September on September 10. The vessel Al Marrouna delivered around 81,936 metric tonnes of LNG from Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal. It had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on September 7 under the government-to-government LNG arrangement between Pakistan and Qatar.

Officials said the latest cargo was secured at a price equivalent to 13.37% of Brent. The additional gas supply is expected to support power generation as several parts of the country continue to experience prolonged loadshedding.

Some areas are facing between six and 12 hours of power cuts amid pressure on gas supplies and the energy system.

According to data for September 21, gas line-pack stood at around 4,792 million cubic feet (MMcf). The power sector was consuming approximately 208 MMcf of gas per day.

Gas use by the fertiliser sector remained stable at 89 MMcf per day. However, domestic gas production has been affected by disruptions at several fields.

Raw gas supplies from the Qadirpur field to Liberty Power have remained suspended since September 17 because of outstanding payments.

Gas supplies from MEL’s GTH plant were also reduced by 37 MMcf per day on September 20 due to its annual maintenance shutdown. The plant is currently supplying around 52 MMcf per day.

The Nashpa plant recorded an 83 MMcf per day decline in gas input following an operational issue, with current supplies standing at the same level.

Gas input from MOL’s CPF facility also fell by 158 MMcf per day because of an operational problem. Current supplies from the facility are reported at around 154 MMcf per day.

Despite the disruptions at several production facilities, officials said no forced gas curtailment is currently being imposed on any source connected to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited network.

The arrival of the additional Qatari cargo is expected to provide short-term support to power generation while Pakistan manages ongoing gas supply challenges and efforts to maintain stability in the energy sector.