QatarEnergy extends LNG force majeure for Pakistan buyers to end of December

QatarEnergy has told buyers in Pakistan that its force majeure on LNG deliveries now runs to the end of December 2026, Reuters reported on Tuesday, 27 October, pushing back an earlier early-December end date. That means no Qatari liquefied natural gas cargoes under the halted contracts for at least two more months, right through the start of winter when gas demand in Pakistani homes peaks.

What was announced

Reuters, in a report carried by Business Recorder, said Italy's Edison posted on the GME energy markets platform that it will receive no LNG from QatarEnergy until the end of the year, with three more of its cargoes affected. A market source told Reuters that clients in Pakistan had been told the same: their force majeure notices have been extended to year-end. Reuters did not name the Pakistani buyers, and QatarEnergy did not respond to its request for comment.

QatarEnergy has been cancelling deliveries since April because of disruption from the Iran war, which began in late February. Edison's long-term contract alone, in force since 2009, covers 6.4 billion cubic metres a year, about a tenth of Italy's gas use.

Why it matters in Pakistan

Qatar has long been Pakistan's main LNG supplier under long-term government contracts, and imported LNG feeds power plants, fertiliser, industry and, in winter, the gas network that serves homes. Two more months without those cargoes leaves less room to cover the December and January peak, when gas companies already cut domestic supply hours in many cities.

The supply squeeze is also showing up in prices. Reuters said lower Qatari supply, thin European storage and colder weather pushed the Dutch benchmark gas price above 95 euros per megawatt hour this week, close to its highest since December 2022. Any spot cargo Pakistan buys to fill the gap would be priced against that market.

The extension follows Monday's news that Lucky Group and QatarEnergy are leaving a planned LNG terminal at Port Qasim: see our report on the Port Qasim LNG terminal exit.

What to watch

• Gas load-shedding schedules: Sui Southern and Sui Northern publish their winter supply hours; tighter LNG supply usually means shorter cooking-hour windows.
• Gas bills: check what your usage costs with our gas bill calculator.
• Fuel and LPG: when piped gas runs short, LPG cylinder demand rises; the petrol price page tracks the fuel side.

Pakistan's government and Pakistan LNG Limited had not commented on the extension when this story was published.