ISLAMABAD: Government has decided to open up the LNG market for the private sector from next month.

This step has been taken in a bid to reduce financial risks for the government and enhance gas supply to minimize shortage in the winter season.

The private sector will start importing LNG from November, which will continue till February under the initial plan.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar said that the cabinet had decided to auction the idle capacity of the nd LNG terminal. The private sector will import the first LNG cargo in November this year.

Babar also chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) on Wednesday to discuss the utilisation of Pakistan GasPort terminal’s excess capacity of 150 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) for 90 days.