Pakistan LNG Limited has released its first tender for liquid natural gas (LNG) cargoes since December 2023, citing supply shortages caused by the Middle‑East conflict. According to a British news agency, the company invited bids from international suppliers for three LNG cargoes of about 140,000 cubic metres each, with deliveries expected at Karachi’s Bin Qasim Port on 27‑30 April, 1‑7 May and 8‑14 May. The tender closes on 24 April. Federal Energy Minister Owais Laghari said the tender aims to meet rising electricity demand and reduce reliance on expensive diesel and furnace oil, while the government remains uncertain when additional cargoes will arrive from Qatar. The move follows recent power shortages that triggered nationwide load‑shedding, with reduced hydro output and disrupted LNG supply highlighting fuel gaps amid growing demand. Pakistan has not received any LNG cargoes since the war began on 28 February, after Iran shut almost all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the key route linking the Gulf to the Indian Ocean that Qatar depends on for its energy exports. Last year, Qatar supplied the bulk of Pakistan’s 6.64 million tonne LNG imports. Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR has offered to supply LNG immediately upon Islamabad’s request; a 2025 framework agreement between SOCAR Trading and Pakistan LNG allows fast‑track purchases. Pakistan had previously cancelled 21 LNG cargoes under a long‑term AN I contract for 2026‑27, expecting lower demand and higher solar power generation, but recent supply disruptions have challenged that strategy. While increased reliance on domestic and renewable energy has somewhat mitigated the impact, Pakistan remains vulnerable to supply shocks, and LNG is essential to avoid load‑shedding during peak summer demand. The Strait of Hormuz blockage has pushed Asian spot LNG prices to a three‑year high; before the conflict, the strait handled about 20 % of global LNG shipments. Experts now project reduced global LNG supply forecasts, with high prices and shortages likely curbing demand across Asia.
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