By SKM
October 29, 2025
KARACAHI: Pakistan marked a historic milestone in its energy and trade landscape today as Cnergyico Pk Limited, the country’s largest oil refiner, received the first-ever shipment of US crude oil at its offshore terminal near Balochistan.
The Suezmax-class vessel MT Pegasus, carrying one million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, berthed at Cnergyico’s Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility — the only offshore crude oil terminal in Pakistan. The shipment, loaded at Houston port on September 14, reached Pakistani waters early Wednesday, officially inaugurating crude oil trade between Pakistan and the United States.
The arrival of MT Pegasus not only signals Pakistan’s diversification of crude supply sources but also represents the largest-ever oil vessel to berth at a Pakistani port, breaking Cnergyico’s own record set in FY2017 when it received a similar large-scale shipment at the same terminal.
“This marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s energy and trade partnership with the United States,” a company spokesperson said, adding that a second cargo of one million barrels is expected to arrive in mid-November, with a third shipment planned for early 2026 as part of a long-term supply strategy.
Officials described the import as a significant step in boosting bilateral trade ties under the recent Pakistan-US economic cooperation framework, which encourages energy collaboration and diversification of sources.
Industry analysts say the move could help improve Pakistan’s energy security by widening its import basket and potentially optimizing refinery feedstock economics, given the quality and pricing of US WTI crude.
Cnergyico, which operates Pakistan’s largest integrated refinery complex, has been a pioneer in offshore crude handling. The company’s SPM allows it to directly receive large vessels that cannot dock at conventional ports, significantly reducing logistics costs and import time.
With this landmark import, Pakistan joins the ranks of Asian nations tapping into US-origin crude, a trend driven by competitive pricing and supply reliability.
As the MT Pegasus completes its offloading at Cnergyico’s SPM, the event underscores both a technological milestone for Pakistan’s refining sector and a strategic stride in trade diplomacy between Islamabad and Washington. Ends
