Pakistan on Thursday sought bids for the import of three LNG cargoes over the next three weeks, with the first shipment due April 27-30; the second May 1-7; and the third May 8-14, as much of the country experiences loadshedding due to a power shortage.
In its invitation to bid, state-run Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) has set April 24 as the deadline for the spot cargo bids, with their opening on the same day, pointing to the urgent need for the fuel as rising temperatures boost demand. Earlier, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik had indicated Pakistan could avail four stranded LNG cargoes from QatarEnergy once the Strait of Hormuz reopens, but ongoing blockades by both Iran and the United States have prevented this.
Qatar declared Force Majeure last month amidst Iranian strikes, with expectations the suspension will continue until after the war concludes.
According to PLL’s tender, all three tenders are for cargoes of 140,000 cubic meters each. The state-run company did not import any cargoes last month, citing the Iran war. Last week, amidst rising power shortfalls and subsequent electricity outages, the Power Division directed the Petroleum Division to arrange around 400 million cubic feet per day of LNG to allow it to utilize LNG power plants.
“With the onset of the summer season, electricity demand has started to rise significantly across the country. In this regard, the availability of RLNG remains critical for ensuring optimal power generation and maintaining system stability,” read the Power Division’s request to the Petroleum Division.
The Power Division further warned that LNG shortages could push the country to utilize diesel for power generation, which could push costs to unsustainable levels. “This would not only result in a substantial increase in the overall cost of generation but would also lead to prolonged hours of load management, thereby increasing the fuel cost adjustment burden on end consumers,” it said.
A day earlier, Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR had said it is ready to supply LNG to Pakistan as soon as it receives a request from Islamabad. It noted a framework agreement signed in 2025 between SOCAR Trading and PLL allows the state company to buy cargoes under an accelerated procedure.