ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division has strongly opposed the proposal of Maritime Affairs Division for allocating the existing capacity in gas pipeline to the upcoming two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals at Port Qasim, Karachi, saying that they should “come online first”. “These new terminals are only on paper and no construction work has yet been initiated,” the Petroleum Division officials apprised the members of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) during a meeting on Monday. They said the suggestion was against third party access rules that allow private parties to market…
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Building strategic reserves for energy security
Pakistan’s current energy mix is heavily tilted towards oil and gas. Any disruption to their supply chain immediately throws the entire economy off balance. This was amply demonstrated by the disturbance to oil supplies in January 2015 and then in the middle of last year. Similarly, in the case of gas, we are witness to extended queues of vehicles before compressed natural gas (CNG) stations – a familiar sight for years till 2016, which caused colossal losses to the economy. The prevailing shortage of gas is again proving to be…
Read MoreChronic energy crisis persists
The energy crisis has continued to persist in Pakistan at a time when demand for oil and gas is on a rise following a rebound in industrial production and exports in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The oil and gas production fell 6% and 4%, respectively, in the second quarter (Oct-Dec) of fiscal year 2021 despite new productions from five oil fields and four gas fields was added in the system,” according to a Topline Research report. Earlier, gas shortfall peaked following a drop in temperature to freezing levels…
Read MoreLNG crisis likely to worsen in country
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers have refused to give supplies to Pakistan for the month of February in the wake of recent massive hike in the prices of gas. According to details, Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) had advertised a tender on November 28, 2020 for the procurement of two spot LNG cargoes to be delivered in February 2021. On December 28, 2020 the bids were opened and the results were announced, and in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, the award intimation was made 10 days…
Read MoreThe upward spiral of the energy bill
Pakistan’s electricity sector is in deep trouble. The recent nationwide blackout on the night of January 9 is just another reminder of the crisis facing the collapsing power sector. But for an average consumer, the most visible impact of this crisis has been their ever-increasing electricity bill. A report published last week suggested that the government had decided to raise the base electricity tariff by Rs1.90 per unit from this month. The announcement, it is said, has been delayed in view of the increase in the fuel prices. The power…
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