Pakistan courting LNG suppliers

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (UPI) -- A report Thursday from the Platts energy news service says Pakistan is on the cusp of receiving liquefied natural gas supplies from international companies.

Platts reported an unnamed official in the Pakistani Ministry of Petroleum said 12 international companies have expressed interest in supplying Pakistan with as much as 40 million cubic feet of LNG per year.

State-owned import company Pakistan State Oil solicited interest for LNG shipments in May.

Pakistan doesn't import LNG, but said Monday it was getting China's help with the construction of a LNG terminal and associated pipeline infrastructure at the port city of Gwadar near the Iranian border.

Islamabad estimates the pipeline could cost $1 billion, with another $2 billion need for the LNG terminal.

The poor state of the nation's energy infrastructure is leaving it short on energy supplies, the government said.

Pakistan and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding for LNG supplies in 2012.