At least three liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes destined for Pakistan remain stranded in the Persian Gulf amid continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, according to vessel-tracking data, raising concerns about worsening electricity shortages as summer demand rises.
Pakistan has gone more than a month without receiving LNG shipments following the closure of the key shipping route, officials familiar with the situation said, increasing the likelihood of extended power outages across parts of the country.
Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said last week that load-shedding during peak hours would continue until LNG supplies resume after Qatar declared force majeure on deliveries linked to regional shipping disruptions.
Pakistan is also in talks with Qatar to secure four additional LNG cargoes, though their arrival remains uncertain if shipping through the strait does not normalise, officials said.
The supply disruption has forced authorities to increase reliance on furnace oil-based power generation and delay maintenance at nuclear plants to help stabilise electricity supply.
Leghari said Pakistan is currently facing a power shortfall of around 3,400 megawatts due partly to reduced hydropower output as lower rainfall and weaker irrigation demand have limited water releases from reservoirs.
Electricity generation from LNG-fired plants, which have an installed capacity of about 6,000 megawatts, has fallen to roughly 500 megawatts because of gas shortages, while hydropower output has dropped to about 1,600 megawatts, nearly half the level recorded in the same period last year, he said. Load management of up to six to seven hours daily is being carried out in some areas.
Uncertainty over energy shipping routes has persisted despite a temporary ceasefire linked to the conflict involving Iran. The truce, due to run until Tuesday, has come under renewed pressure after the United States seized an Iranian cargo vessel and Tehran’s senior military leadership warned of possible retaliation.
Any prolonged disruption to LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz could deepen Pakistan’s fuel shortages and complicate efforts to stabilise electricity supply ahead of peak summer demand, officials said.
