ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has diverted its fifth long-term LNG cargo—originally scheduled for June 2025—to the international market, a senior official from the Petroleum Division confirmed.
This follows the earlier diversion of four LNG cargoes due in February, March, April, and May, all part of a 15-year supply agreement with Italian energy firm ENI. Under the contract, Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) is entitled to receive one cargo per month at a price linked to 12.14% of Brent crude.
The diversions are based on a request made by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in a letter dated January 21, 2025, to the federal government. The letter sought approval to redirect 11 monthly cargoes in 2025 to the global market due to insufficient demand.
The move comes after the Power Division declined to increase reliance on re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) for electricity generation—even during the high-demand summer months of June, July, and August—prompting the shift to avoid surplus and associated costs.
Story by Khalid Mustafa
