Brunei, China Look to Supply LNG to Pakistan

Brunei and China have shown interest in supplying LNG to energy starved Pakistan, Express Tribune, a Pakistani newspaper reported Friday.

According to the newspaper PB Trading Sendirian Berhad, wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleum Brunei and PetroChina have offered to supply the fuel in a government to government contract. Pakistan is also planning to discuss possibility of LNG imports with countries such as Australia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria, Russia and Oman.

Islamabad is already close to sealing a sup[ply deal with Qatar. It has finalised all contract provisions with Doha except for the price and expects to see first consignment arrive by the end of the current month, Express Tribune added.

Pakistan is facing severe shortage of natural gas. To bridge the shortfall, government is pushing ahead with different gas pipeline projects. It also plans to build LNG terminals at the Port Qasim and Gwadar Port, which will handle imported gas with an estimated re-gasification capacity equal to around 2 bcfd of natural gas, according to the newspaper.

Earlier this week, Business Recorder, another Pakistani newspaper, reported China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP) will soon begin laying 700 km Gwadar-Nawabshah gas pipeline in Pakistan on government to government basis. CPP would also be building the LNG terminal in Gwadar.