QatarEnergy officials are scheduled to meet counterparts from Pakistan next week to discuss Islamabad’s request for reducing liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments in 2025 amid falling domestic demand, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, meetings between QatarEnergy and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) officials are planned for Monday and Tuesday, citing individuals familiar with the matter. Pakistan has reportedly asked Qatar to either postpone or resell around two dozen LNG cargoes on the international market due to reduced energy requirements.
Although the gathering is part of regular annual supply discussions, it has drawn close attention from traders because of the scale of reductions Pakistan is seeking. Qatar remains Pakistan’s largest LNG supplier, providing all shipments under long-term contracts.
Energy demand in Pakistan has weakened following a government decision to raise domestic gas and power tariffs to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loan disbursements. The reforms, aimed at reducing mounting utility debts, coupled with a surge in solar power generation, have further suppressed gas consumption.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told Bloomberg News that PSO, the state-owned importer, is in coordination with Qatar to finalize arrangements. “The government needs to lock in a plan for next year’s supplies by November 15,” he said.
Earlier this month, QatarEnergy signed an agreement with Shell to acquire a 27 percent stake in an offshore exploration block in Egypt. The company has also expanded its global portfolio in recent years with investments in oil and gas projects across Guyana, Lebanon, Namibia, South Africa, and additional offshore blocks in Egypt.
