Pakistan seeks three Qatari LNG cargoes for October amid Hormuz uncertainty

Pakistan has decided to seek three liquefied natural gas cargoes from Qatar during October and plans to engage Iranian authorities over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, The News reported via Profit on Oct 6.

The move follows QatarEnergy’s extension of its force majeure on LNG supplies to Pakistan until November 4, ahead of winter. Arab News Pakistan put the date at November 5.

Pakistan arranged two Qatari cargoes in September — arriving around September 10 and September 23 — after taking both Iranian and US authorities into confidence. Officials said securing three in October could be harder amid continued Hormuz uncertainty and no broader US-Iran peace arrangement, with Islamabad keeping diplomatic channels open, particularly with Iran.

The government has decided against the spot market for now: spot LNG is estimated at around $28–30 per MMBtu, putting a single cargo near $100 million — further pressure on state finances.

As of Oct 5, the power sector was consuming about 237 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG, export and non-export sectors around 175 mmcfd and fertiliser plants about 88 mmcfd. Officials estimate nine cargoes needed in December and around 11 in January 2027.

QatarEnergy halted contracted deliveries in March following attacks on its facilities amid the war in Iran. Pakistan normally receives about nine Qatari cargoes a month under long-term deals; it has received only nine since March, plus seven spot shipments through July.