Qatar Postpones 5 LNG Cargoes for Pakistan Until 2026

Qatar has postponed the delivery of five LNG cargoes to Pakistan from 2025 to 2026 in response to the country’s request. The Ministry of Energy confirmed the deferment and said it was due to the declining gas consumption which created high line-pack pressure and other associated risks to the national pipeline. Pakistan’s LNG usage has dropped by 150 million cubic feet per month due to reduced industrial demand, leaving 18 cargoes expected in 2025 unneeded. Qatar agreed to shift five of these to 2026 under a flexible clause in two government-to-government (GtG) agreements. However, the agreements do not permit the rescheduling or halting of the remaining 13 surplus cargoes, which Qatar will still supply in 2025. To meet winter demand, Pakistan has reallocated its LNG schedule. In December 2024, the country will receive 12 cargoes — 10 from Qatar and 2 from ENI — while in January 2025 will have 12 (11 from Qatar and 1 from ENI). For November, six cargoes from Qatar are set to arrive instead of the usual nine, with one cargo shifted to December and two to January.