In a statement Munawar said, “The demand for gas is rising rapidly and SSGC would need one billion cubic feet per day in next three years to cater to this demand. Currently SSGC is supplying 750 mmcf per day to our consumers but, by 2010, there will be a significant shortage of gas in the country if not imported at a large-scale.”

“An LNG project would be faster in implementation as it would not involve pipeline installation, any territorial issue or third party interest which is related to Pak-Iran gas pipeline or Turkmenistan. The gas would be converted into LNG at the fields in Qatar or Iran and would be gassified in Pakistan,” he added.

According to Munawar, SSGC has received offers from “three to four international firms including Shell and Asia Petroleum” to supply the demand. He also admitted the idea of importing either Qatari or Iranian LNG came from Pakistan’s ministry of petroleum and natural resources. The choice of supplier, however, depends upon who can provide the best price.

“We have asked them to lower their price from US$3.50 to US$2.50 per million cubic feet per day. Our average buying price is about US$2.20 mmcf per day in the country and [I] hope they [will] come back with the new price structure,” he added, referring to the interested LNG suppliers.