The government is seeking proposals to purchase six LNG cargoes.

According to a senior source from the Energy Ministry, the new government has filed tenders seeking bids from overseas suppliers to purchase six cargoes from the LNG spot market – three each for May and June at competitive pricing. Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) had already agreed not to purchase spot LNG cargoes for the months of April and May. The PML-N built three state-of-the-art LNG-based power plants in Punjab during its previous term in power: Haveli Bahadur Shah 1,230 MW, Bhiki 1,180 MW, and Balloki power plant 1,230 MW. Instead of power plants that run on furnace oil and diesel, the government preferred to use them for power generation.

It had also begun work on an RLNG-based power plant in Trimmu, Jhang, which will be the fourth in Punjab and have a capacity of 1,263 MW. It is now finished. “PLL, which was previously least interested in purchasing LNG from the spot market, has now opted to purchase LNG cargoes under the directions of the new government with the goal of running the LNG power plants at full capacity to create maximum electricity,” says the company.

Apart from the three LNG-based power plants at Haveli Bahadur Shah, Bhiki, and Balloki, numerous other power plants, including Liberty Power of 210 MW, Rousch of 410 MW, Nandipur of 525 MW, FKPCL 140 MW, and nine units at Haveli Bahadur Shah, Bhiki, and Balloki, have experienced reduced supplies.