Pakistan has received its second shipment of Russian crude oil, as another ship carrying 45,000 metric tons of oil has stopped at the Karachi port. The ship, named Clyde Nobel, the second one to arrive from Russia under a deal that struck between Islamabad and Moscow earlier this year.
The arrival of the second shipment comes amid a severe energy crisis in Pakistan, which has been facing frequent power outages and gas shortages due to low domestic production and high demand.
This ship currently attached at the outer dock of the Karachi port, awaiting the finalization of the berthing plan. The port authorities expected to allocate a berth for the ship soon so that it can unload its cargo. This crude oil will then transported to the Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), where it will refined and processed.
The first shipment of Russian crude oil, consisting of 45,000 metric tons, reached Karachi on June 11. The government had placed the first order of 100,000 metric tons of Russian crude oil in April, after months of negotiations between the two countries over the terms and conditions of the deal.
Russia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of crude oil and has been looking to expand its market in Asia. Pakistan is one of the potential buyers of Russian oil, as it seeks to diversify its sources of energy and reduce its dependence on imports from the Middle East.
The second shipment of Russian crude oil is a welcome development for Pakistan’s energy sector, as it will help meet some of the domestic demand and reduce the import bill. However, it is not enough to solve the chronic energy problems that plague the country. The government needs to invest more in developing its own energy resources, improving its transmission and distribution networks, and promoting renewable and alternative sources of energy.
