LNG critical for country’s energy security, says Petroleum Division

ISLAMABAD: Petroleum division on Wednesday linked the country’s energy security with a consistent supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), forewarning massive power outages in case of any decision to stop the LNG import.

“If we take LNG out of the system, a similar situation (energy crisis) faced in 2009 will emerge,” Petroleum Division Secretary Mian Asad Hayauddin told the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum on Wednesday.

He warned that massive load-shedding would start again if LNG imports were stopped.

Hayaud Din said LNG is imported in line with the demand of power sector and that it saved the country from massive energy crisis that hit the country a decade ago. Currently, imported gas accounts for around one-fourth of the country’s energy demand.

Officials of the Petroleum Division pointed out that gas production in the country stood at 4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) against total demand for 6 bcfd. The country was importing 1.2 bcfd of LNG to meet domestic requirement.

Senator Nauman Wazir, however, criticised the government for importing LNG without ‘proper’ planning. He was of the view that LNG imports were more than the actual demand for the commodity in the country.