The first Pakistan LNG cargo of October arrived on Tuesday, when the Qatari vessel Al-Areesh berthed at Engro's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at 11:05am. Regasification, the step that turns super-cooled liquid back into gas for pipelines, began at noon at 150 million cubic feet a day (mmcfd). A senior official of the Petroleum Division said authorities were working to arrange further shipments from Qatar after disruptions to LNG supplies and continued uncertainty over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Engro restarts as the second terminal stays shut
Engro's terminal had not been operating since 26 September because no LNG vessel was available to discharge. Al-Areesh has restarted that flow, and 150 mmcfd of regasified LNG is now being injected into the national gas network. The country's second terminal, operated by Pakistan GasPort Limited (PGPL), has been closed since 9 October for lack of LNG inventory. Authorities expect to arrange another cargo for PGPL within the next eight to 10 days.
Between 9 October and 13 October, no LNG was being regasified at either terminal. As of 13 October, the power sector had only around 38 mmcfd for electricity generation. The restart at Engro is expected to provide some relief. PGPL is still shut.
Winter demand and a thin local supply
Tuesday's vessel is the first cargo of the month. Officials said they were trying to secure three cargoes from Qatar, with assistance from Iranian and US officials. Under the latest supply scenario, Pakistan is expected to arrange only two cargoes in October, matching the two vessels received in September.
The Qatar LNG supply has been uncertain since QatarEnergy declared force majeure on 4 March, after Iran attacked Ras Laffan, Qatar's largest LNG production facility, on 2 March 2026. Force majeure lets a supplier suspend contracted deliveries when it says an extraordinary event is beyond its control. QatarEnergy has extended the declaration twice, and the latest extension runs until 6 November. If conditions in the Strait of Hormuz do not improve, the suspension could be lengthened and disrupt imports through the winter.
A long interruption would press on domestic gas, electricity generation and industry during peak winter demand. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) projects its requirement to rise from 500 mmcfd to 1,550 mmcfd. Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) expects demand to increase from 300 mmcfd to 500 mmcfd.
Local fields are also short, according to line-pack data as of 13 October. Input from MOL's CPF and GPF facilities fell to 124 mmcfd on 12 October because of an annual turnaround, and the current rate is 123 mmcfd against a normal 160 mmcfd. Gas from the Bettani field, 31 mmcfd, has been suspended since 11:45pm on 9 October after a rupture in the eight-inch Bettani-Kakakhel pipeline near Sheri-Khel village, at kilometre 26.5. MEL's GTH plant supplied 65 million cubic feet on 12 October, compared with its usual 70 mmcfd, after an operational problem that was not specified.
Third-party supplies of 14.5 mmcfd from MOL's Mamikhel South well have been suspended since 26 September because of a problem at the well site. A further 45 mmcfd of raw gas from the Qadirpur field to Liberty Power has been suspended since 17 September because of non-payment. The Pakistan gas supply outlook remains fragile. Engro is back, PGPL is not, and further Qatari shipments are still uncertain. The Pakistan LNG cargo restarts one terminal. Winter demand figures are far larger than this single send-out rate.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2 March 2026: Iran attacked Ras Laffan, Qatar's largest LNG plant.
- 4 March: QatarEnergy declared force majeure. The declaration has been extended twice, most recently until 6 November.
- 26 September: Engro's terminal stopped for lack of a vessel, and 14.5 mmcfd from Mamikhel South was suspended.
- 9 October: PGPL shut for lack of LNG inventory. At 11:45pm the Bettani-Kakakhel pipeline ruptured, and 31 mmcfd from Bettani was suspended.
- 9-13 October: Neither terminal regasified LNG. The power sector had around 38 mmcfd for electricity generation as of 13 October.
- Tuesday: Al-Areesh berthed at Engro at 11:05am. Regasification started at noon at 150 mmcfd, the first cargo of October.
Aasan alfaaz mein
October ki pehli LNG cargo Qatar se Pakistan aa gayi hai. Al-Areesh jahaz mangal ko 11:05am par Engro terminal par laga, aur dopahar se 150 mmcfd gas network mein ja rahi hai. Doosra terminal PGPL 9 October se band hai, kyunke wahan LNG maujood nahi. Is cargo se thori rahat mili hai, lekin sardi mein demand barh sakti hai aur supply abhi kamzor hai.
