Second Qatari LNG Shipment En Route to Pakistan Amid Gas Constraints

A new shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar is on its way to Pakistan after diplomatic discussions that included Iranian officials, according to government representatives. The cargo has already passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to arrive at Port Qasim within the coming days.

This delivery is the second Qatari LNG cargo that Pakistan has secured in September. It arrives as the country's power sector faces persistent gas supply limitations and extended periods of load shedding across various regions.

An official from the Petroleum Division stated that the new shipment successfully navigated the important Strait of Hormuz. The first shipment this month, carried by the vessel Al Marrouna, reached Pakistan on September 10 with approximately 81,936 metric tonnes of LNG from Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal. That vessel transited the Strait of Hormuz on September 7 under the existing government-to-government LNG agreement between the two countries.

Authorities reported that the latest LNG cargo was agreed at a price equivalent to 13.37% of Brent crude. The additional supply is expected to offer short-term relief to the country’s power sector, currently experiencing load shedding ranging from six to twelve hours in several locations.

Data as of September 21 showed overall system line-pack at 4,792 million cubic feet, with power sector consumption at about 208 million cubic feet per day. The fertiliser industry maintained its gas use at 89 million cubic feet daily. However, domestic gas production was disrupted in several areas, including continued suspension of supplies from the Qadirpur field to Liberty Power due to non-payment since September 17.

Additional production challenges were reported at multiple plants. Gas feed from MEL's GTH plant dropped by 37 million cubic feet per day because of scheduled maintenance, while the Nashpa plant experienced an 83 million cubic feet daily reduction due to a technical issue. MOL’s CPF also saw gas input reduce by 158 million cubic feet per day owing to operational difficulties.

Despite these issues, officials confirmed there was no forced gas curtailment currently in effect for any source within the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) network.