ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), received through the first shipment, has been injected into the gas supply network, which will help overcome shortage of gas in the country.
The minister, while talking to media, said that the cost of importing LNG would not be imposed on the domestic consumers. However, he said that power plants, fertiliser manufacturers and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pumps will ‘bear the brunt’.
Abbasi said that 170mmcfd gas was injected into the system on Saturday night and the gas will reach domestic consumers and other sectors by Monday. He said that the Ogra would set the new price of gas for the three above mentioned sectors on Monday and the price revision would take effect on April 1.
He stated that the power sector would benefit the most because LNG is much cheaper than furnace oil, helping energy producers save around $300 million every year. “We can produce electricity at Rs10 per unit against Rs18 to Rs20 per unit on furnace oil,” he claimed.
Pakistan is importing LNG from Qatar and the first shipment of 148,517 cubic metres (3000 mmcfd) of LNG docked at Engro’s LNG terminal on Thursday evening. By injecting 200 mmcfd into the system, the process of unloading the LNG could be completed in 15 days.
