Pakistan Secures Second Qatari LNG Cargo via Iran Deal
Pakistan has secured another liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Qatar after negotiating with Iran to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
This is the second Qatari LNG shipment that Pakistan will receive in September, following a deal last month where some carriers managed to exit the Persian Gulf early. The latest cargo cleared the Strait on the weekend and is expected to arrive in Pakistan by Tuesday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
Pakistan has been struggling to keep the lights on due to its reliance on Qatari term supply, which was disrupted after Qatar declared force majeure on its exports following Iranian strikes that damaged its Ras Laffan LNG export hub. As a result, Pakistan turned to spot LNG markets and paid hefty premiums for occasional shipments.
The latest Qatari LNG shipment is expected to ease Pakistan's energy crunch and spare it from making an even more expensive spot purchase.