Qatar LNG Cargo Reaches Pakistan via Hormuz in September 2026 After Iran Strike

Qatar declared force majeure on its exports after an Iranian attack damaged the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas hub. Pakistan then turned to the spot LNG market and paid high premiums for small cargoes. Qatar had been Pakistan's largest LNG supplier, with long-term contracts between the two sides.

Over the past three months, Pakistan issued several tenders for immediate LNG deliveries, with awarded prices consistently reaching USD 20 per million British thermal units or above. A tender earlier in September 2026 failed to transact because Pakistan State Oil received only one offer, priced at USD 27 per million British thermal units. That price was three times what Pakistan had paid for LNG before the war. International LNG prices stood at about USD 23.18 per million British thermal units, while the offer received was USD 26.969 per million British thermal units. After the tender was scrapped, Pakistan LNG Limited issued a new tender.

The Qatari cargo's arrival comes as Pakistan grapples with pressure on electricity supply caused by natural gas shortages. Because of the gas shortage, Pakistan's power generation costs have risen sharply, and rolling blackouts have become a fact of daily life, in some areas lasting as long as 24 hours at times. As of July 2026, power generation costs were up 38% from the same period in 2025. Spot-market LNG prices have also trended upward since then, and QatarEnergy announced an extension of force majeure.