Exxon, Shell Groups Among Developers Pursuing Pakistan LNG Plans

(Bloomberg) -- Pakistan has given provisional permission to five developers, including partnerships with Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, to set up LNG import terminals.

The developers are now required to submit technical and financial details by Nov. 5, as well as a $2 million concession fee, according to Ali Zaidi, minister for maritime affairs. Another $8 million will be paid on the signing of so-called implementation agreements.

“It’s a great opportunity for private investors to set up their own terminals, import their own gas and develop their own markets,’’ Zaidi said in a phone interview.

The government is requiring the terminals to be completed in two years, and for the operators to pay a royalty of $1.90 per ton, according to Zaidi. The companies are also required to disclose if they’re being investigated by any government authority.

According to Zaidi, the five prospective developers are:

• Tabeer Energy, a unit of Mitsubishi Corp.
• Exxon and Energas, a venture that includes Lucky Group, Sapphire and Halmore
• Trafigura Group and Pakistan GasPort
• Shell, Engro Corp., Gunvor and Fatima
• Global Energy Infrastructure Ltd.

--With assistance from Stephen Stapczynski.

To contact the reporter on this story: Faseeh Mangi in Karachi at fmangi@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ramsey Al-Rikabi at ralrikabi@bloomberg.net, Jasmine Ng

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