ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to receive much-needed liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies after a vessel carrying Qatari LNG successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz, with another cargo also expected to follow, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
According to Bloomberg’s ship-tracking data, the Al Marrouna transited the strategic waterway earlier this week and is scheduled to reach Pakistan by Thursday.
Another vessel carrying Qatari LNG is also expected to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days and is bound for Pakistan, the report said, citing traders familiar with the matter.
The arrival of the Qatari cargoes could provide some relief to Pakistan’s LNG supply situation and help the country avoid costly purchases from the spot market.
Pakistan did not award a tender to procure an LNG cargo for September on Tuesday after receiving no offers from suppliers, indicating that the international LNG market remains tight.
The country is currently facing significant challenges in securing LNG supplies amid geopolitical disruptions and elevated spot-market prices.
Pakistan relies heavily on its long-term LNG supply agreements with Qatar to ensure relatively stable and affordable fuel supplies. However, renewed hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz disrupted the flow of Qatari LNG and resulted in the cancellation of a shipment scheduled for July 2026.
Qatar subsequently declared force majeure, further disrupting LNG supplies to Pakistan and forcing the country to seek emergency cargoes, alternative fuels and potentially expensive spot-market supplies.
The expected arrival of the Qatari vessels could therefore ease near-term supply pressures and reduce Pakistan’s exposure to volatile spot LNG prices.
