Pakistan increases RLNG price by upto 0.6%

Pakistan has increased the price of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) for February, citing higher terminal charges despite lower import prices.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has notified a half-percentage-point increase in RLNG prices at the distribution stage for the two gas companies: the Karachi-based Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL) and the Lahore-based Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL).

The increase of 0.53% to 0.59% follows two consecutive monthly reductions totaling about 11% — 6% in December and 5% in January. Prices had earlier risen cumulatively by 4.4% in October and November.

SSGCL, which serves consumers in Sindh and Balochistan, reported distribution-stage system losses of 12.55%, up from 10.6% a couple of months earlier. SNGPL, serving Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, posted losses of nearly 9%, compared with 7.47% in October.

According to the notification, SNGPL’s gas sale price at the transmission stage rose 0.53% to $10.47 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) in February, up from $10.41 per mmBtu in January 2026. The rate stood at $10.92 per mmBtu in December 2025 and $11.24 per mmBtu in September.

At the distribution stage, SNGPL’s price increased 0.53% to $11.335 per mmBtu for February, compared with $11.27 per mmBtu in January, $11.83 per mmBtu in December and $12.24 per mmBtu in November.

For SSGCL, the RLNG sale price at the transmission stage increased 0.59% to $9.03 per mmBtu in February, up from $8.98 per mmBtu in January, $9.47 per mmBtu in December, and $9.86 per mmBtu in September.

At the distribution stage, SSGCL’s price rose 0.59% to $10.27 per mmBtu for February, compared with $10.21 per mmBtu in January, $10.77 per mmBtu in December and $11.01 per mmBtu in September.

The regulator said the increase in RLNG prices was due to a “slight increase in terminal charges.” Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) for both companies at the distribution stage had increased two months earlier.

Despite the marginal rise, RLNG distribution prices remain significantly higher than the average delivered ex-ship (DES) price. The February distribution price of $10.27 per mmBtu for SSGCL and $11.33 per mmBtu for SNGPL is roughly $3.3 and $4.25 per mmBtu higher than the average DES price, respectively.

The gap reflects profit margins and retainage charges by LNG importers — Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) — as well as port authorities. These charges amount to 3.77% of the DES price, in addition to system losses of 8.97% for SNGPL and 12.55% for SSGCL.

The basket RLNG price for February was based on eight cargoes, resulting in higher terminal charges than in January. All cargoes were imported under two long-term contracts between PSO and Qatar Gas at an average price of about $7.45 per mmBtu in February, down from $7.52 per mmBtu in January, $7.87 per mmBtu in December and $8.15 per mmBtu in November. Of the eight cargoes, four were procured at $8.46 per mmBtu and four at $6.45 per mmBtu.