Pakistan pursues Libyan crude imports as it broadens energy supply options

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Pakistan explores Libyan crude imports

Highlights

Pakistan is urging domestic refineries to assess Libyan crude oil imports and is negotiating larger allocations as part of a diversification plan.
A Turkish seismic vessel will arrive next month for Indus Basin data acquisition, with energy ministers from Libya, Turkey, and Qatar discussing upstream and LNG cooperation with Pakistan.
Pakistan is developing a long-term energy security strategy including strategic reserves, refinery upgrades, and market reforms to mitigate import risks amid global supply disruption concerns for 2026.

Oil supply diversification and regional energy talks

As reported by Pakistan Business Recorder, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan has encouraged domestic refineries to explore imports of Libyan crude oil while a Turkish seismic vessel is expected to arrive next month to begin data acquisition in the Indus Basin.

The minister held a bilateral meeting with Libya's Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek on the sidelines of the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh. He told his Libyan counterpart that Pakistan is asking refiners to assess Libyan crude as part of a plan to diversify supply sources and preserve alternatives if key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, face disruption.

Abdulsadek said Pakistan is an important country for Libya and added that he would encourage Libya's national oil company to allocate larger crude volumes to Pakistani companies. He also said Libya is planning refinery upgrades and is interested in learning from Pakistan's experience in refinery upgradation.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also met Malik and said he is looking forward to visiting Pakistan next month to receive a TPAO seismic vessel for the start of data acquisition in the Indus Basin. Malik also held talks with Qatar's Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi on possible cooperation in the LNG sector.

Energy security strategy and sector implications

Speaking at the forum's plenary session on investment and trade in sustainable energy solutions, Malik said the global energy sector is entering a new investment cycle in which energy security, affordability and sustainability must advance together. He said investment is needed not only in renewable energy but also in hydrocarbons, critical minerals and core infrastructure such as grids and pipelines.

Referring to the global energy supply shock of 2026, Malik said the crisis extends beyond oil and gas to shipping and insurance. He said Pakistan, despite heavy reliance on imported energy, has navigated the disruption without rationing major energy sources, supported by government measures and cooperation from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Malik said Pakistan is working on a longer-term energy security framework that includes strategic reserves, a bonded reserves scheme, higher indigenous energy production, and infrastructure such as refineries and tank farms. He added that the country is also pursuing more competitive electricity and gas markets and targeted relief mechanisms, positioning supply diversification and upstream exploration as part of a broader effort to reduce import risk for the energy sector.

Pakistan Refinery Limited’s board leadership change was previously covered in our publication, after chairman and independent director Tariq Kirmani resigned on health grounds effective October 9, 2026. We noted that the company disclosed the transition via a Pakistan Stock Exchange filing, marking an official shift in leadership at one of Pakistan’s listed refiners—an important backdrop as the country weighs refinery upgrades and broader energy security measures.

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