ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan is importing around 2,500 mmcfd Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar every month to meet its energy requirements, official sources in Petroleum Division of Ministry of Energy said on Friday.
Talking to state-run news agency, official sources said that at present, five cargoes of capacity of around 140,000 cubic meters LNG, which translates into 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas are being imported from Qatar on a monthly basis.
“This, on an annual basis, is around 3.75 million tonn per annum (MTPA) whereas another 0.75 MTPA LNG is imported through term tender arrangement which is not origin specific. Thus a total of 4.5 MTPA LNG is being imported currently in the country,” they said.
Official sources said that Pakistan State Oil (PSO) signed a 15-year agreement with Qatar in February 2016 and so far 76 LNG cargoes had been imported from Qatar gas. They said that the agreement was signed under government to government arrangement between PSO and Qatar gas.
They said that the LNG deal started doing wonders when the imported gas fed industries, CNG stations, gas-fired power generation plants and fertilizer sector, giving an impetus to economic activities in the Country.
“The country had no option other than to import gas whether it is LNG or through Iran-Pakistan and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects as the country’s existing reserves are depleting and there is no major find since long,” sources said.
Sources expressed confidence that the LNG import would prove to be a game-changer for Pakistan because it was considered an essential part of the energy mix needs of emerging economies.
