Pakistan's Port Qasim to Receive First Cargo of LNG from Qatargas
The first load of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) traded by Qatari supplier, Qatargas, is planned to reach the Port Qasim LNG terminal on March 26, says a report in Reuters.
Qatargas is providing the LNG to Pakistan at $8 to $9 per Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU), according to sources. According to official sources at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, the first cargo of LNG will arrive in Karachi on March 26.
However, the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has also raised operational, technical and regulatory constraints over LNG imports.
The Port Qasim authorities said that other shipping traffic will be hampered and delayed by nine to 10 hours which will result in heavy financial claims on PQA by other port terminal operators. Hence government should undertake required dredging.
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has taken up the issue with the federal government while the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has also informed that additional dredging to facilitate LNG ship, known as Q-Flex, was responsibility of the terminal operator as per request for proposal (RFP).
PSO is acting as LNG buyer for Pakistan's government to secure long-term and spot supply contracts.
After the cargo reaches Pakistan, the LNG will be re-gasified and, on March 31, injected into the Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) network through Engro’s re-gasification terminal at Port Qasim. The SSGCL is then required to transfer it to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) at the Zamzama-Sawan gas establishment.