The Italian LNG trading company ENI has intimated that it won’t be able to deliver its LNG cargo scheduled on February 6, which might cause the gas situation in Pakistan to worsen in the coming days.
The report has troubled the senior officials in the Petroleum Division since the country is already suffering from a severe gas shortage, with some major cities getting little to no gas pressure.
In accordance with its petrol load management strategy, the government assured home users a supply of gas for cooking during the winter months for three hours from 6 am to 9 am, two hours from 12 pm to 2 pm for lunch, and three hours from 6 pm to 9 pm for dinner.
According to authorities, the effect of ENI’s disengagement will be seen as a reduction in supplies to the power sector and the non-availability of the anticipated 325mmcfd supply for the sector next month.
End users will receive expensive electricity as boiler oil-based electricity’s reliance grows. The captive power plants will be delivered gas at 50 per cent and supply to fertiliser plants, compressed natural gas (CNG) and local industry shall remain discontinued.
The Petroleum Division had earlier asserted that the ENI will not default starting in January 2023, however, this is untrue.
The February supply setback is due to an occurrence of Force Majeure, according to an ENI representative, who also confirmed the news, saying that ENI is not in any way benefited from the circumstance.
According to The News, ENI defaulted five times last year, failing to deliver LNG cargoes in the months of March, May, July, September, and November.
