Pakistan received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment of October on Tuesday, as supply disruptions and uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continue to threaten the country’s gas supplies ahead of winter.
The vessel Al-Areesh docked at Engro’s LNG terminal at 11:05 a.m. Regasification started at noon, adding 150 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG (RLNG) to the national gas network.
Authorities are seeking additional shipments from Qatar but expect Pakistan to receive only two LNG cargoes in October, the same number as in September. Officials are also seeking assistance from Iranian and US officials to arrange three shipments.
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Engro’s terminal had remained shut since September 26 because no LNG vessels were available. The second terminal, operated by Pakistan GasPort Limited (PGPL), stopped operating on October 9 due to insufficient LNG stocks. Authorities expect another shipment for PGPL within eight to 10 days.
Neither terminal regasified LNG from October 9 to 13. As a result, the power sector had only around 38 mmcfd available 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. It could be extended further if shipping conditions through the Strait of Hormuz do not improve, putting supplies ahead of winter at risk.
Gas demand is expected to rise sharply during the colder months. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is projected to need 1,550 mmcfd, up from 500 mmcfd, while Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) requirement is expected to increase from 300 mmcfd to 500 mmcfd.
Domestic supply constraints are adding to the pressure. Gas consumption in the fertilizer sector reached 90 mmcfd on Tuesday, compared with 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. They currently stand at 123 mmcfd, against normal production of 160 mmcfd.
Another 31 mmcfd from the Bettani field has remained suspended since October 9 after an eight-inch pipeline connecting Bettani and Kakakhel ruptured near Sheri-Khel village at kilometre 26.5.
MEL’s GTH plant supplied 65 mmcfd on October 12, below its usual 70 mmcfd, due to an operational issue.
Separately, 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. Supplies of 45 mmcfd of raw gas from the Qadirpur field to Liberty Power have also remained suspended since September 17 over nonpayment.
