ExxonMobil partners with Pakistan for third LNG terminal

KARACHI (Bloomberg) -- ExxonMobil is working with a group of Pakistan’s large businesses on a proposal to build and supply the country’s third import terminal for liquefied natural gas, according to the nation’s minister for maritime affairs.

Exxon has partnered with Pakistani consortium Energas to develop the import terminal, the minister, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, said by phone Friday, without providing further details. An Exxon spokesman in Singapore wasn’t immediately able to comment.

According to a presentation the companies made to the country’s regulators Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg, the group plans to start building a $150 million offshore terminal at Port Qasim near Karachi in May, pending government approvals. Exxon and Qatar would supply LNG to the terminal, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, according to the presentation.

With a population of more than 200 million and an economy growing above 5%, Pakistan has the largest appetite for LNG among emerging markets, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The nation’s domestic gas production has remained stable for more than a decade despite growing demand.

The terminal will have throughput capacity of 750 MMcfgd, or about 5.6 million tons a year of LNG, according to the presentation. Exxon and Energas already have customers for about 300 MMcfgd including power plants, it said.

Energas is a consortium of large Pakistani businesses looking to secure long-term gas supply on preferential terms, including Yunus Brothers Group, which owns Lucky Cement Ltd., and Sapphire Group.