Pakistan received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo of October on Tuesday, with the vessel Al-Areesh docking at Engro’s LNG terminal at 11:05 a.m. Regasification began at noon, injecting 150 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG (RLNG) into the national gas network.
Authorities are seeking additional shipments from Qatar amid supply disruptions and uncertainty over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Although officials are trying to secure three cargoes with assistance from Iranian and US officials, Pakistan is expected to receive only two in October, matching September’s arrivals.
Engro’s terminal had been shut since September 26 because of a lack of LNG vessels, while the second terminal, operated by Pakistan GasPort Limited (PGPL), has been non-operational since October 9 due to insufficient inventory. Authorities expect another cargo for PGPL within eight to 10 days.
From October 9 to 13, neither terminal regasified LNG, leaving the power sector with only about 38 mmcfd for electricity generation as of October 13.
The supply outlook remains uncertain after QatarEnergy declared force majeure on March 4, following an Iranian attack on Ras Laffan, Qatar’s largest LNG production facility, on March 2, 2026. The suspension has been extended twice, most recently until November 6, and could be prolonged if conditions in the Strait of Hormuz fail to improve, threatening winter supplies.
Winter gas demand is expected to rise sharply. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s (SNGPL) requirement is projected to increase from 500 mmcfd to 1,550 mmcfd, while Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) demand is expected to rise from 300 mmcfd to 500 mmcfd.
Domestic production and infrastructure problems are adding to the pressure. Fertilizer-sector gas consumption reached 90 mmcfd on Tuesday, up from 88 mmcfd a day earlier. Supplies from MOL’s CPF and GPF facilities fell to 124 mmcfd on October 12 due to an annual turnaround and currently stand at 123 mmcfd, against a normal 160 mmcfd.
Another 31 mmcfd from the Bettani field has been suspended since October 9 after an eight-inch Bettani-Kakakhel pipeline ruptured near Sheri-Khel village at kilometer 26.5. MEL’s GTH plant supplied 65 mmcfd on October 12, below its usual 70 mmcfd, due to an unspecified operational issue.
Additionally, 14.5 mmcfd of third-party gas from MOL’s Mamikhel South well has been suspended since September 26 because of a problem at the site, while 45 mmcfd of raw gas from the Qadirpur field to Liberty Power has remained suspended since September 17 over nonpayment.
The post Pakistan Receives First LNG Cargo in October appeared first on ProPakistani.
