THE Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, announced recently that Pakistan would import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from China for which Pakistan is constructing a 700-km pipeline.

This is a misleading statement. First, China is not a country that exports LNG. On the contrary, it imports it. China’s total demand of natural gas last year was 178.6 billion cubic metre (bcm), which was met with 127.9 bcm locally produced and 50.7 bcm imported gas (including 27 bcm LNG). The demand of natural gas in China is increasing rapidly, projected to be 400 bcm per year by 2020. China has recently concluded an agreement with Russia for the import of 38 bcm LNG during this year.

Second, and most importantly, LNG is not and cannot be transported through a pipeline. LNG is a natural gas in a liquid state, cooled to minus 162 deg. C (minus 260 deg. F) that shrinks the volume of gas by 600 times making it easier to store and transport. The LNG carriers are double-hulled cargo ships specifically designed to handle LNG at its super-chilled temperature, equipped with state-of-the-art safety and security technology including leak detection, emergency shut-down, and advanced radar & positioning system.

Upon arriving at its delivery destination the LNG is warmed to its original gaseous state, known as Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), and for the purpose, re-gasification facilities are installed at the LNG Terminal. RLNG is then transported through pipeline for use in power generation and other sectors.

Hussain Siddiqui

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2015

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