Pakistan, India Unlikely to Sign LNG Deal

Pakistan’s attempt to enter a deal to buy LNG from India is not likely to come through as Delhi has refused to reduce the price of the fuel, reports The Express Tribune newspaper.

“India was not willing to show flexibility during talks held with Pakistan in the last week of March. It quoted $21 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), higher than the price of around $16 being offered in the region,” an official told The Express Tribune.

As per the plan, India was to lay a 60-km pipeline from Bhatinda to Wagah border whereas Pakistan was to build a 30-km pipeline to inject gas into the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) system.

Pakistan desired to import 200 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd) initially with the possibility of stepping up supplies in the long run, says The Express Tribune. 

The country is facing severe energy crisis and is looking for supplies of natural gas from various sources. Pakistan is in talks with Qatar for supply of LNG and the two parties are negotiating the final price.