Pakistan floats tender for LNG cargo as gas shortage fuels power outages

Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) has sought offers for a single spot shipment of liquefied natural gas for early September, according to Profit by Pakistan Today. The tender, issued on August 30, seeks 140,000 cubic metres with a 5% tolerance for delivery at Port Qasim in Karachi between September 4 and 8. Shortages of re-gasified LNG, mainly for power generation, continue to feed prolonged electricity outages.

The procurement follows a government apology last week for extended power cuts, with the LNG shortage listed among the causes of load shedding. Submissions close at 2 pm on September 1, with technical bids opened at 2:30 pm and commercial bids at 3:30 pm for eligible suppliers. Contracts will go to the bidder with the lowest evaluated cost, quoted in US dollars per MMBtu, and PLL aims to decide the same day.

No spot LNG buys were made in August, while just one shipment arrived from Qatar under the long-term intergovernmental deal. Five spot cargoes were procured by PLL in July, yet no Qatari cargo arrived under that pact.