KARACHI: Pakistan has issued a fresh international tender for the procurement of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo for September, marking its third attempt to secure spot supplies after rejecting two earlier rounds over high prices.
Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) has invited bids from international suppliers for an LNG cargo scheduled for delivery between September 12 and 16.
According to the tender details, the deadline for submission of bids has been set for September 8. The offers received from international suppliers will also be opened the same day.
The latest tender comes after the government cancelled two previous bidding rounds for September LNG supplies. Both tenders were rejected after the prices quoted by suppliers were considered too expensive.
The repeated tendering highlights the challenge facing Pakistan in securing LNG supplies at commercially acceptable rates while managing the country’s energy requirements and containing the financial burden associated with expensive imported fuel.
Pakistan relies on imported LNG to supplement domestic gas production, particularly when demand exceeds locally available supplies. Spot-market purchases, however, can expose the country to fluctuations in international LNG prices and shipping costs.
The outcome of the latest tender will therefore depend largely on whether international suppliers offer prices that PLL considers commercially viable.
If acceptable bids are received, the cargo is expected to be delivered during the September 12-16 window. However, the tender itself does not guarantee that a cargo will ultimately be purchased, as PLL can evaluate the offers against prevailing market conditions and procurement requirements.
