Azerbaijan’s state energy company, SOCAR, has told a news agency it is ready to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan as soon as it receives an official request from Islamabad, which is reckoning with an energy shortfall arising from a dearth of LNG cargoes.
Speaking with Reuters, SOCAR said a framework agreement signed in 2025 between SOCAR Trading and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) allows the Pakistani buyer to purchase LNG cargoes directly under an accelerated procedure. “SOCAR is ready to provide LNG to Pakistan as soon as PLL submits a corresponding request,” it said.
While SOCAR did not say whether such a request had already been made, its messaging implies the Government of Pakistan has not yet done so.
A day earlier, the Petroleum Division had claimed the import of four pending LNG cargoes from Qatar had been halted due to Iran’s renewed threat to attack any ships attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Apart from the shipping lane, LNG supplies for Pakistan—almost entirely sourced from QatarEnergy—are significantly impacted by the company declaring Force Majeure after attacks on its facilities by Iran.
Earlier this week, the Power Division wrote to the Petroleum Division urging it to secure LNG supplies to bridge a 400mmcfd gas shortage that is hampering electricity generation, resulting in loadshedding.