Some Pakistani buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) — gas cooled into liquid form for shipping — will not receive cargoes from QatarEnergy until the end of this year, after the Gulf supplier extended force majeure notices that had been due to end in early December.
Italy’s Edison and a market source said on Tuesday that the halt now runs to end-December. Force majeure is a formal notice that a supplier cannot meet contracted deliveries because of events beyond its control. Clients in Pakistan were also informed that the notices had been extended until year-end, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
What Edison and Pakistani buyers were told
In a message on the platform of Italy’s energy markets manager, Edison said QatarEnergy had lengthened the force majeure period on LNG deliveries to the end of December from a previous early-December deadline.
Edison said a further three LNG cargoes intended for the Italian utility will be affected by the suspension. The same person familiar with the situation said Pakistani clients received matching notice that the halt lasts until the end of the year.
QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Supply disruption since April
QatarEnergy has cancelled LNG deliveries to Edison since April. The latest step does not create a new dispute so much as stretch an existing interruption deeper into winter, when gas demand typically rises.
For Pakistan, the practical question is whether other cargoes or fuels can cover the gap for the buyers named in the notices. The available accounts do not say how many Pakistani cargoes are covered or what volumes are involved.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- April: QatarEnergy began cancelling LNG deliveries to Edison.
- Early December: The previous force majeure end date for the affected LNG deliveries.
- Tuesday: Edison said the force majeure period now runs to end-December; Pakistani clients were also told the notices last until year-end.
What happens next
Unless QatarEnergy lifts the notices earlier, the named buyers will need other LNG or fuel through December. Officials and companies have not, in the material at hand, set out replacement plans or consumer-facing tariff changes tied to this extension.
Aasan alfaaz mein
QatarEnergy ne kuch Pakistani gas kharidaroon ko LNG (liquid gas) ki supply rok di hai. Pehle ye rukawat early December tak thi, ab year-end yani December ke akhir tak barha di gai hai. Jo companies ye gas leti hain, unhein December tak doosri supply dhoondni hogi. Seedha matlab: zimmedar buyers ke liye gas ka intizam ab aur mushkil ho sakta hai, jab tak naya elaan na ho.
