Azerbaijan says it is ready to supply LNG to Pakistan

Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR is ready to supply liquefied ​natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan as soon ‌as it receives a request from Islamabad, the company told Reuters on Tuesday, ​as Islamabad seeks spot cargoes to ​ease a growing energy shortfall.

SOCAR said a ⁠framework agreement signed in 2025 ​between SOCAR Trading and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) allows ​the Pakistani buyer to purchase LNG cargoes directly under an accelerated procedure.

“SOCAR is ready to ​provide LNG to Pakistan as ​soon as PLL submits a corresponding request,” the ‌company ⁠said in response to Reuters questions.

SOCAR did not say whether such a request had already been made, when a ​first delivery ​could ⁠take place, or whose LNG would be supplied under the ​agreement.

Pakistan, which relies heavily on ​gas ⁠for its energy needs, remains vulnerable to declining domestic production and swings ⁠in ​global LNG prices amid ​the supply disruptions related to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Facing criticism over loadshedding even before the beginning of summer, the power division has already placed an order with the petroleum division to arrange around 400 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of LNG for power generation, amid hopes for the opening of international supply routes.

A day earlier, it had also emerged that Pakistan and Qatar were in an advanced stage of discussions for the supply of at least four LNG cargoes, which could pass through the Strait of Hormuz within a couple of days.

Qatar had declared force majeure early last month on all its global LNG contracts, including those with Pakistan.