Petroleum Division in Pakistan faces a difficult position after the Power Division said it cannot use nine additional LNG cargoes planned for delivery in 2026 year.
The unused cargoes are valued at around 270 million dollars and were included in an annual LNG supply plan agreed with Qatar and ENI earlier.
According to officials, revised electricity demand forecasts for 2026, driven by higher solar usage and lower GDP growth expectations, reduced power sector LNG requirements significantly.
The decision leaves the Petroleum Division considering diverting surplus LNG to the domestic gas sector, a move that could further worsen the circular debt levels of Pakistan.
Read More: Inefficiencies Add Billions To Power Sector Debt
Pakistan plans to import 89 LNG cargoes in 2026, while 35 cargoes worth over one billion dollars are already designated for international diversion markets annually.
Officials say revenue of about 160 billion rupees from diverted cargoes is intended to help manage gas circular debt, which has reached 3,200 billion rupees.
Despite long-term LNG agreements, the power sector has become reluctant to use RLNG for electricity generation because higher costs push tariffs upward for consumers nationwide.
