ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, responding to call-attention notice, has told the National Assembly that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is reaching Pakistan today as per schedule and its supply to the country’s natural gas system will be started from March 31.
However, the minister could not satisfy the opposition about the LNG price agreed with Qata, saying that terms and conditions for the sale and purchase of LNG, including its price, are being negotiated with Qatar Gas and all aspects of the deal are being considered. The minister said first shipment of 60,000 tonnes will reach Pakistan tomorrow (Thursday) and it will contribute two billion cubic feet of gas in the system and save$300 million to the power sector. He said the price is being negotiated between the Qatar Gas and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) but declined to share details about it.
Abbasi added after hectic efforts, the government has developed a world-class LNG terminal in a span of 11 months. It has also been decided that any third party or consumer can import LNG and can use it freely. Answering another question regarding comparison of rates, the minister said LNG import rates differ in every country and the big importers of LNG in Asia are Japan, India, Korea and China.
To a question regarding names of countries or companies with which the government is negotiating the import of LNG, the minister replied that the government has designated Pakistan State Oil to negotiate the import of LNG on government-to-government basis with Qatargas, which has been designated by the state of Qatar. Moreover, preliminary meetings have also been held with Petronas – Malaysia’s designated entity – and PB Trading Sendirian Berhad – Brunei Darussalam’s designated entity – to initiate discussions on potential supply of LNG to Pakistan.
