Pakistan set to get another Qatari LNG cargo

The 2025-built 174,000-cbm Mihzem, chartered by QatarEnergy, was on Tuesday afternoon local time sailing in the Gulf of Oman after crossing the Strait, its AIS data provided by VesselsValue shows.

Mizem is expected to arrive at Pakistan’s Port Qasim, where two FSRU-based terminals are located, later today, according to the data.

This could be the second Qatari LNG cargo to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Middle East conflict between Israel and the US on one side and Iran on the other on February 28.

The Q-Flex LNG carrier Al Kharaitiyat, which recently crossed the Strait of Hormuz, was located near Port Qasim on Tuesday.

QatarEnergy previously announced that it expects the damage to its Ras Laffan complex caused by missile strikes from Iran to cost about $20 billion a year in lost revenue and to take up to five years to repair, impacting supply to markets in Europe and Asia.

QatarEnergy stopped producing LNG at its giant Ras Laffan complex on March 2 due to military attacks on its operating facilities. The LNG producer declared force majeure to its affected LNG buyers on March 4.

Pakistan has been buying expensive spot LNG supplies to secure fuel for its power plants, as it mostly buys LNG under long-term contracts from Qatar.

However, Pakistan LNG canceled the last two spot LNG cargo tenders due to the expected arrival of cheaper Qatari long-term contracted volumes, local media reports said.

Pakistan has been in discussions with Iran to allow a limited number of LNG tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to secure much-needed supplies for its power plants, the reports said.