Pakistan seeks alternative LNG supplies, braces for winter shortages amid Qatar force majeure
Qatar has extended force majeure notices on LNG deliveries to Pakistan until Nov. 5, after QatarEnergy halted production and declared force majeure in March following attacks on its facilities during the United States-Iran conflict. Pakistan is seeking alternative cargoes and preparing to curtail supplies to some sectors, with the Ministry of Petroleum asking state-owned Pakistan LNG Limited to explore supplies from the US, the Middle East and Azerbaijan and a government threshold of $27 per MMBtu for spot cargoes. Last winter the country imported 36 LNG cargoes, of which 35 came from Qatar.
Why it matters: The suspension of Qatari deliveries and the search for replacement cargoes place energy security at the centre of the briefing, since the passage of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and winter load management determine Pakistan's gas supply.