Italy is pushing forward the talks with Pakistan to secure a government-to-government LNG contract. Rome has nominated Eni to supply the LNG, but the company will face tough competition from France’s Engie as well as other companies from China and Malaysia that have been operating in the Pakistani oil and gas field for a while, according to Interfax.

The source added that Eni has had onshore permits in Pakistan that produced around 45,000 boe in 2014, most of which was gas. This is why the Executive Director of the Pakistan-based energy law firm Josh and Mak International, Aemen Maluka, believes that Eni has a good chance of securing the energy contract with Pakistan.

Eni has had various oil and gas exploration activities in the country, but in May 2016, the company has conveyed to the Pakistani government that it could not afford continuing with the oil and gas exploration projects – that did not turn out to be profitable businesses – and would like to focus on supplying LNG to Pakistan. The company said that it will be willing to deliver 3m tons of LNG per year, according to The Express Tribune.