Pakistan's Only FSRU Has Pumped 77bcf of of Gas Into the System

Pakistan’s only operational LNG terminal at Port Qasim has so far regasified and pumped over 77 billion cubic feet of gas (bcf) into the national gas distribution network, Express Tribune reported Tuesday.

According to Amir Mahmud, terminal manager of Engro Elengy Terminal Limited (EETL) a total of 1.7 million tons of LNG has been imported so far.

The terminal became operational about a year ago. Utilising Excelerate's floating storage and regasification vessel (FSRU), the Exquisite, the facility has the capacity to deliver up to 690 million ft3/d of natural gas directly to Sui Southern Gas Company's natural gas pipeline system. Most of the gas has been supplied to gas-based power plants that were either sitting idle due to non-availability of gas or burning expensive form of fuel to produce expensive electricity, he said.

“This terminal alone will save up to $600 million for Pakistan through fuel substitution and will generate up to 2,000MW of electricity,” Express Tribune quoted Mahmud as saying. “The step to set up LNG import infrastructure is in the right direction and the country needs another three to four LNG import terminals to curtail the ongoing crisis. “

Pakistan has been facing severe gas shortage since last few years. To augment energy supplies, Pakistan has stepped up effort to attract foreign investment, especially in the oil, gas and LNG sectors. The government recently approved the construction of Russian funded North-South gas pipeline. The pipeline will start from Nawabshah and end at Kasur, near Lahore.

Islamabad has also attracted Chinese investment in LNG terminal and other pipeline projects. The Pakistani economy has been facing severe shortage of natural gas which has led to frequent power outages affecting industrial activity. To fill up the gap it has commenced import of LNG mainly from Qatar. Earlier this year, Islamabad and Doha signed a long term LNG contract after prolonged negotiations