Pakistan To Start Importing Qatar LNG Soon
Pakistan wants to start importing 1 million to 2 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year from Qatar in six months, Minister of Investment told Reuters on Monday. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of LNG and Pakistan needs gas to feed power plants and alleviate chronic shortages of electricity. The two countries have held talks for LNG supply, Waqar Ahmed Khan said.
A Qatari official confirmed talks had taken place but were at a very early stage. “We hope to sign the deal soon,” Khan said. “They agreed during the talks to sell Pakistan one to two million tonnes per year, but there is no deal yet.” LNG is a gas super-chilled to liquid form for export in specially designed tankers.
Pakistan is building a pipeline to receive the gas, and wants to lease a vessel that can convert the LNG back to gas offshore before pumping it into the grid, Khan said. “We are now in negotiations with the companies that own these ships,” Khan said.
