Second Qatari LNG Cargo Reaches Pakistan, Docks at Port Qasim
KARACHI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan has received its second Qatari liquefied natural gas cargo this month, with the LNG carrier Shandong Redwood arriving at Port Qasim after successfully navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid continuing disruption to regional maritime traffic.
The vessel arrived from Qatar and berthed at the Pakistan GasPort Limited terminal on Wednesday morning, according to current reporting. The shipment was supplied under Pakistan’s long-term LNG arrangement with Qatar at a price equivalent to 13.37% of Brent crude.
The cargo is particularly important for Pakistan because restrictions and security concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted normal LNG shipments and contributed to domestic gas and electricity supply pressures.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik had confirmed earlier this week that Shandong Redwood had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and was heading towards Karachi. Port Qasim officials had expected the vessel to arrive around September 23.
The Bermuda-flagged vessel is about 283 metres long, according to ship-tracking information cited before its arrival.
Second Qatari Shipment in September
The latest delivery is Pakistan’s second LNG cargo from Qatar during September.
The first arrived on September 10, when the carrier Al Marrouna berthed at Port Qasim carrying approximately 81,936 metric tonnes of LNG loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal.
For both September shipments, Pakistani authorities engaged diplomatically with Iranian authorities to facilitate passage of the LNG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, The News reported.
The arrival of Shandong Redwood therefore provides additional relief at a time when Pakistan has faced constrained gas supplies and power shortages.
Pakistan relies on imported LNG to supply its energy system, including gas-fired power plants. During the higher-demand period, the country typically requires several LNG cargoes each month to support electricity generation.
Hormuz Disruption Remains a Major Risk
The Strait of Hormuz remains the biggest external risk to Pakistan’s LNG supply chain.
Commercial traffic through the strategically important waterway has fallen sharply amid the US-Iran conflict. Reuters reported on September 21 that only 17 commodity vessels crossed Hormuz over the weekend, compared with 37 during the previous weekend and far below the pre-war average of about 125 large commercial vessels per day.
This disruption is particularly significant for Pakistan because much of its imported energy originates in or transits the Gulf.
The government has relied on diplomatic engagement and alternative procurement arrangements to maintain supplies. Pakistan LNG Limited has also returned to the spot market this year after supply disruptions, seeking additional cargoes when contracted deliveries became uncertain. Reuters reported in April that PLL sought three spot shipments of around 140,000 cubic metres each for delivery at Port Qasim.
The latest Qatari shipment comes as Pakistan is also holding talks with the International Monetary Fund, with higher imported energy costs among the external pressures facing the economy.
Energy Relief, But Supply Risks Remain
The arrival of another LNG tanker provides immediate support for Pakistan’s gas and power system, but it does not eliminate wider supply risks.
Regional maritime traffic remains restricted, and the ability of future LNG vessels to cross Hormuz will depend on security conditions and arrangements governing commercial shipping.
The successful arrival of Shandong Redwood is nevertheless significant because it confirms that two Qatari LNG shipments have reached Pakistan in September despite severe disruption around one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
