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Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is looking to purchase 830,000 tonnes of fuel oil for delivery by May.

Pakistan's leading oil marketer is seeking 10 65,000-tonne cargoes of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) for delivery between March and May.

PSO is also in the market for three 60,000-tonne parcels of low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) for delivery between April and May, tender documents showed.

Bids are to be made by 2.30 p.m on February 25. They will be opened at 3 p.m. on the same day, PSO said.

The majority of Pakistan's supplies tend to come from the Middle East due to the freight advantage that exists because of the proximity of the region to Pakistan, versus East Asia.

PSO typically buys from fuel oil players such as Vitol, Trafigura and Glencore. Up until the end of 2011, the company had also been a regular purchaser of fuel oil from Sharjah-based FAL Oil, until the UAE firm was blacklisted by PSO after failing to meet its contractual agreements.

The fuel oil purchased by PSO is mainly used for power generation. Demand usually peaks during the summer, when less hydropower output means Pakistan has to turn to fuel oil-powered plants.

While other countries have turned towards other power generation solutions due to environmental concerns, a significant percentage of Pakistan's electricity is still generated by oil-fired plants.

PSO also acts as an intermediary for the supply of bunker fuel to the country's national shipping company, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), as well as to Pakistan's navy.