Pakistan Receives Third Qatar LNG Cargo in October
Pakistan has received its third liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Qatar this month, providing some relief to the gas supply system amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pakistan third Qatar LNG cargo arrived as the country heads into the winter season, when domestic gas demand rises sharply.
The vessel Shandong Redwood arrived on October 28 and berthed at the Engro Elengy LNG terminal. The cargo was priced at 13.37 per cent of Brent crude, and it was delivered to Engro Elengy Terminal Limited’s floating storage and regasification unit, Exquisite, for regasification.
Pakistan third Qatar LNG cargo: the October arrivals so far
The latest arrival follows two earlier LNG shipments in October. The first cargo, Al-Areesh, reached Pakistan on October 13. The second, Ejnan, arrived on October 21 and berthed at the Pakistan GasPort Limited terminal for regasification.
The shipment was reportedly arranged with the assistance of Iranian officials amid regional tensions. That detail, reported by ProPakistani, underlines how sensitive the supply route has become, with cargoes moving through or near the Strait of Hormuz at a time of conflict in the region.
For Pakistan, the three October cargoes are a short-term buffer, not a solution to the winter supply gap. The authorities are expected to arrange three to four LNG cargoes in November. Procurement requirements are set to increase sharply in December and January, when Pakistan will need nine and 11 cargoes respectively to meet its energy needs.
Why winter demand changes the picture
Winter demand is expected to put additional pressure on the gas supply system, particularly in the northern regions. During peak winter, domestic gas demand in Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited’s jurisdiction, which covers Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is projected to rise from around 500 million cubic feet per day to 1,500 million cubic feet per day.
In Sui Southern Gas Company Limited’s service areas, covering Sindh and Balochistan, demand is expected to increase from about 300 million cubic feet per day to between 500 and 600 million cubic feet per day. According to the daily system update cited by ProPakistani, SNGPL’s system line pack stood at 4,695 million cubic feet.
Those figures explain the cargo arithmetic. Three cargoes in October, plus three or four in November, still leave a steep climb to nine in December and 11 in January. Each cargo must be contracted, shipped, berthed and regasified in time, and any delay in the Strait of Hormuz or at a terminal feeds directly into domestic supply.
The wider energy context for Pakistan
Feature Pakistan reported that Pakistan and Qatar are close to a revised LNG deal, which would sit alongside spot and term cargoes such as the October arrivals. Feature Pakistan also reported on the government’s fuel supply planning for the winter months, and Feature Pakistan reported on earlier warnings about winter gas shortages when LNG imports were delayed.
The pattern in those reports is consistent: Pakistan’s winter gas system depends on a steady flow of imported cargoes, and the margin for delay is thin. The pricing detail also matters for bills. The Shandong Redwood cargo was priced at 13.37 per cent of Brent, so its landed cost rises with global oil prices even if the volume stays the same.
What to watch next
The next markers are the November cargoes, and whether three or four arrive on schedule. After that, the December programme of nine cargoes will test terminal capacity, shipping availability and the Hormuz route at the same time.
If those cargoes arrive as planned, the winter peak will be easier to manage. If they slip, the pressure will fall first on the northern system, where demand is projected to triple to 1,500 million cubic feet per day. The third October cargo is therefore a step in a longer sequence, not a turning point.
Frequently asked questions
Which vessel brought Pakistan’s third October LNG cargo?
The vessel Shandong Redwood arrived on October 28 and berthed at the Engro Elengy LNG terminal. The cargo was delivered to the floating storage and regasification unit Exquisite.
Which LNG cargoes arrived earlier in October?
Al-Areesh reached Pakistan on October 13, and Ejnan arrived on October 21 and berthed at the Pakistan GasPort Limited terminal.
