KARACHI: Port Qasim is set to become country’s energy hub with the addition of three more Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, said Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Chairman Agha Jan Akhtar in a conversation with Dawn.

These terminals would be in addition to the existing three terminals that are either already functional or are about to become operative in the near future, he added.

Mr Jan disclosed that a consortium, comprising Lucky Group, Sapphire and Hallmore, is keen on setting up an LNG terminal at PQA.

And another consortium – Engro along with Fatima group and Shell – is also interested in setting up a terminal, he added.

Both consortia are expected to set-up Floating Ship Re-gasification Unit (FRSU) with a capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfd), he maintained.

The third is a possibility that a consortium of Pakistan GasPort Consortium Limited (PGLP) and Fauji Foundation will set up another LNG terminal at Port Qasim while its first terminal with a capacity of 600mscfd is expected to start operations from November this year, he added.

All groups will import and market LNG on their own as there is no tolling agreement with the government. However, they would be using the national grid system of Sui Southern and Northern gas pipelines, the PQA chairman added.

There is a possibility, he said, they would be using imported LNG for their own projects because both the groups already have their own cement and power plants in the country which are using other costly fuels.

Mr Jan said if this goes well it would mean that in total there would be six LNG terminals at Port Qasim, with a handling capacity of 3,600mscfd. The government may have to lay down a new pipeline to meet growing LNG demand.

Currently Engro’s LNG terminal with a capacity of 600mscfd is already functioning at PQ.

Another consortium of five companies, including such giants like Exxon, Qatar Petroleum, Mitsubishi, Total and Höegh LNG are looking at setting up huge plant of one billion standard cubic feet per day at Port Qasim.

The expected investment in this LNG terminal would be around $200 million and will have a brand new FSRU manufactured by Hyundai of South Korea.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2017